We the undersigned would like to ask Northampton councils to stop spraying pesticides and weedkillers in public areas such as parks, schools and verges and look to more natural ways that are sustainable and pollinator friendly.

The use of these chemicals is having a devastating effect on our pollinator and other insect populations which then affects our birds who feed on them especially our song birds and small mammals such as hedgehogs.

Our children are more vulnerable to these chemicals as they have higher exposure risks and the sort of health issues that arise from absorption through the skin or breathing them in are many ranging from skin reactions, allergies, respiratory disorders and even seizures. Glyphosate a weedkiller that is used frequently has been linked to cancer and also the destruction of bee colonies.

There are many ways we can control weeds without chemicals using mechanical methods such as flame, foam and hot water treatment or electronic control systems for dealing with invasive systems such as Japanese knotweed. We also need to allow some areas to grow wild or be managed meadows rather than continually mown such as the middle and edges of motorways and roadsides or an area of open space such as ‘Cherry Orchard’ at Hardingstone. Rather than a single green plateau, these could be a mass of colourful  wildflowers  full of insect life.