Where are all the Bees, Insects and Birds?

Chattering Sparrows, soaring Swallows?

How many Butterflies have you seen this year?

When was the last time you saw a Wasp?

🦋🕷🦆🐝🐜🐸🐌🪲🐛🦔🐞🦗🪱🐟🦐

A large amount of the decline can be attributed to the wide spread use of toxic weed killers. 

Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide, and is the active ingredient in products such as RoundUp.

NELincs uses it to remove weeds in parks, playgrounds, in tree pits, along our streets and in any other council managed land.

Yet this weedkiller has many environmental impacts beyond its intended use: 

It is harmful to bumblebees and other pollinators, through direct poisoning, but also by removing crucial habitat and resources.

It is absorbed into the soil and has been shown to be harmful to worms.

It also leaches into our waterways, entering drinking water aquifers, and and is highly toxic to aquatic species.

The chemical has also been deemed a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the World Health Organization, particularly affecting workers who use it regularly. Exposure to small amounts is also dangerous to children playing in treated playgrounds, pregnant people, and the elderly. Finally, glyphosate has been shown to worsen chronic conditions such as asthma.

Our health is a risk.

Our biodiversity is at risk.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Nationally, there is a move away from the use of glyphosate in favour of more sustainable weed management plans, which include non-chemical weeding alternatives, as well as leaving some areas for biodiversity. Over 100 councils across the UK have either gone fully pesticide-free or made significant reductions. And it goes further - France, Luxembourg and Denmark have all stopped using pesticides in urban areas. Yet NELC has not made this move yet.

From preventative mulching, letting some unused areas grow wild, hand-weeding and hoeing, to mechanical brushes and hot foam machines, there are many weed management alternatives to choose from.

 In 2019, NELC declared a climate emergency, yet continues to use these chemicals in our neighbourhoods. In a 2021 survey undertaken by NELC, 87% of respondents said they wanted NELC to place environmental impact at the heart of everything they do and over 80%of respondents said  biodiversity was important or very important.  We are calling on NELC to act and work with local residents to make positive change for biodiversity.

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We, a group of residents, political supporters of all hues, serving Councillors, freshney comrades and more,  ask NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE  COUNCIL to:

1)      Join the growing list of pesticide-free towns and phase-out the use of glyphosate in favour of non-chemical alternatives that put nature and our health first.

2)     Work with “Pesticide Action Network UK” who are a leading organisation supporting Local Authorities on their pesticide free journey.

3)     Start to progress its commitment in its Carbon Road Map to “work with local community groups and provide increased access and connection to nature and encourage a healthy, sustainable lifestyle”

4)Agree Action Plan for Change with  Annual Reviews of progress, publicising and promoting solutions.

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Thank You for your signature and support to make this happen