I am a concerned resident of Thanet, deeply troubled by Kent County Council’s widespread use of weed killers on our streets. Spraying of weed killer is scheduled to start on the 12th of August and run for 8 weeks in Thanet. These herbicides are not merely eliminating some plants – they are causing widespread environmental damage. The indiscriminate use of these substances is poisoning our local insects, affecting biodiversity, and endangering numerous micro-habitats within the sprayed areas. Additionally, their lingering effect on the pathways is harmful to our animals who frequently roam and sniff around these areas. 

It's imperative to note that studies have consistently shown how certain herbicides can devastate off-target plant life, diminish arthropod abundance, and negatively affect the overall health of our ecosystem. (Quinn et al., 2020).

Striving towards sustainable, eco-friendly cities is a global trend we can't ignore. Thanet has very little in the way of flora (and only has 4% tree coverage) so we must make every effort to protect our endangered insect populations. We must cease the usage of these harmful weed killers and explore environmentally friendly alternatives for managing undesired plants on our streets.

Take action today. Sign this petition to ask KCC to explore other options and stop the use of these harmful toxins on our streets.