Stop the Use of Herbicides in Kirklees Public Spaces and Promote Sustainable Land Management

We call on Kirklees Council to immediately halt the use of herbicides in public spaces and to adopt safer, more sustainable methods of vegetation management, beginning with a trial in Slaithwaite and expanding across the wider Kirklees metropolitan area.

We are calling on Kirklees Council to take urgent action to protect public health, biodiversity, and the local environment by ending the use of herbicides in the management of vegetation across council-owned public spaces.

Herbicides—particularly those used in routine grounds maintenance—have been linked to harmful impacts on wildlife, soil health, water systems, and potentially human health. Their continued use is incompatible with growing public concern about environmental sustainability, ecological restoration, and the climate crisis.

We propose that Kirklees Council:

Immediately initiate a pilot scheme in Slaithwaite to cease the use of herbicides in all council-managed public spaces, including pavements, parks, verges, and recreational areas.

Adopt alternative vegetation management approaches, such as manual removal, mechanical methods, and nature-friendly practices that support biodiversity.

Monitor and publicly report on the outcomes of the Slaithwaite trial, including environmental, financial, and community impacts.

Commit to expanding the herbicide-free approach across the entire Kirklees metropolitan area, based on the findings of the trial.

In addition we urge Kirklees Council:

To review its mowing practices across all public green spaces. Where it is safe, practical, and appropriate to do so, mowing frequency should be reduced or eliminated to:

Encourage the growth of wildflowers and native plant species
Support pollinators and local wildlife
Reduce carbon emissions and maintenance costs
Improve soil health and natural resilience

By adopting these changes, Kirklees Council has an opportunity to become a leader in environmentally responsible land management, begin to reverse the biodiversity crisis, save money and resources and to respond meaningfully to the concerns of its residents.

We ask Kirklees Council to listen to its community and take decisive steps toward a safer, greener future for all.

Sign this petition to support a healthier environment in Kirklees.