News / Environment
Weedkiller endangering Bristol’s Wildlife
In Henbury, many grassy areas are brown and dead. This environmental degradation is being attributed to the use of weedkillers containing glyphosate, the world’s most widely sold weedkiller.
Bristol City Council sprays weedkillers containing this chemical in parks and on streets in order to control weed growth, but glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide so will kill most plants it comes into contact with.
However, many are becoming increasingly concerned about the effect of such weedkillers on wildlife because in areas where the chemical is used, the grass dries up, which makes it uninhabitable for creatures that depend on certain wildflowers for their survival.
is needed now More than ever
Brown patches are currently commonplace throughout Henbury.
Glyphosate has also been found to harm honeybees, damaging the beneficial bacteria in their guts, making them more prone to deadly infections.
The chemical is banned in the Netherlands, France, Bermuda and Sri Lanka but glyphosate is cheaper and easier than other weed killing methods and is still used in the UK. Other options include hot foam, which uses higher quantities of energy and water, or acetic acid, which must be of a high chemical concentration to effectively kill weeds.
Nick Gates, wildlife gardener and nature writer, took to Twitter to share his opinions.
https://twitter.com/NTGates/status/1135979132918145024
In 2016, the mayor Marvin Rees promised to scrap the use of glyphosate weed killers in Bristol public spaces by 2021.
In response, a spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “In response to a full council resolution earlier this year, members met with stakeholders, including the Pesticide Safe Bristol Alliance, to identify methods of weed control that are less dependent on chemicals.
“Work on solutions for use on a whole city basis that deliver a phased withdrawal from the use of glyphosates is continuing.
“As with all chemicals our current policy is to reduce use where we can and always safely use the minimum amount possible.
“We currently only use glyphosate products that have been fully licensed for use in the UK and considered an approved, safe product to use. These include Blade, Nomix G, Nomix Dual and Roundup Pro.”
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