Brian May has expressed frustration after his plan to plant thousands of daffodils on a village green was blocked by councillors he described as "killjoys." The Queen guitarist, 78, who resides near Elstead, Surrey, had hoped to replicate a successful daffodil planting scheme at St James' Church on the village green. However, Elstead Parish Council rejected the proposal, citing safety fears that the flowers could obstruct drivers' views.
Council's Decision Sparks Debate
The council's decision was made during a meeting on April 20, where members argued that the daffodils might interfere with sight lines on the green, potentially creating a traffic hazard. Councillors also emphasised the desire to preserve the green as an open shared space, with some residents preferring to keep it uncluttered or explore alternative planting options.
Sir Brian, who donated and helped plant 3,000 bulbs at St James' Church last year, was baffled by the rejection. "Apparently the main objection is that the sight lines on the green will be affected for traffic," he said. "We're struggling to imagine how 18-inch stalks could obstruct anyone's view, especially when the green is normally surrounded by parked vehicles, including a seven-foot-high ice cream van." He reluctantly cancelled his bulb orders but hinted at a possible future attempt.
Council's Response and Alternative Offer
Elstead Parish Council acknowledged the disappointment but defended its position. "We fully understand that this will be disappointing. However, Elstead Parish Council has a responsibility to balance community initiatives with safety, accessibility as well as the long-term management of the village green for all users," a statement read. The council noted that Church Green and the village green are different areas, with the former's tree coverage more suitable for daffodil planting. They offered alternative locations, which were not accepted, but expressed willingness for continued dialogue.
Previous Daffodil Drama
This is not the first daffodil-related hiccup for Sir Brian. The flowers planted at St James's Church turned out to be the wrong colour—bright yellow Golden Aura instead of the planned subtle cream Ice Follies. Despite the mix-up, he embraced the result, saying, "These very traditional, 'natural' narcissus flowers look pretty splendid, waving in the sunshine." The blooms were even blessed by the church's vicar, Rev Hannah Moore.
Despite suffering a minor stroke in 2024, May remains active, trading gruelling world tours for a lighter schedule and teasing a return to live performances. Queen, with nearly 300 million records sold, continues through various iterations since Freddie Mercury's death in 1991.
