(Snow)Drop the finisher top
Royal Parks Half Marathon Finisher T-shirt Opt-Out
Continuing to minimize the Royal Parks Half Marathon's environmental impact in 2025, participants will again have the option to forgo receiving a finisher’s t-shirt.
This year, when you opt out of the finisher t-shirt, you will contribute to the planting of snowdrops and other native bulbs along the half marathon route.
The Royal Parks Half is collaborating with our parks teams to continue the ‘(Snow)Drop the Finisher Top’ initiative, a conservation project aimed at enriching biodiversity in The Royal Parks by establishing habitats for invertebrates.
Your support will play a crucial role in supplying snowdrop bulbs and other native bulbs along various points of the half marathon route within Hyde Park. The bulbs we will be planting are
- Winter Aconite
- Crocus
- Wood Anemone
- Native bluebell
- Single or Greater Snowdrops
- Snakehead Fritillary
If you choose to support ‘(Snow)Drop the Finisher Top’ in lieu of receiving a finisher’s t-shirt, you will receive a thank you email upon completion of the race as well as an update on when the bulbs are planted in the parks.
Why plant snowdrops and other native bulbs?
Native bulbs bloom at the right time for local bees, butterflies, and other pollinators, offering essential nectar and pollen.
They integrate seamlessly into local soil conditions, reducing the need for artificial fertilizers or soil amendments.
Their natural growth cycles contribute to healthy soil microbiomes, which benefit fungi, insects, and other organisms.
Many native bulbs’ seeds, flowers, and leaves are food sources for insects, birds, and small mammals.
Their foliage and decaying plant matter create shelter and breeding sites for insects and soil-dwelling species.
Native bulbs are well-adapted to local weather conditions and require less water and care than non-native species.
They thrive without excessive chemical inputs, reducing the risk of pollution in nearby water sources.
Unlike some ornamental non-native bulbs, native species do not threaten local plant diversity by outcompeting other flora.
They help maintain balanced ecosystems by fitting into existing plant communities rather than disrupting them.
Our 2024 Snowdrops are blooming
An amazing, 21% of our runners opted out of their top in 2024 which meant we planted over 16,000 snowdrop bulbs in November 2024. The flowers are already blooming with more planting to continue in Spring.
