What's the Problem?

Wyre Forest District Council / Worcestershire County Council routinely spray verges, pavements and parks with Glyphosate based pesticides, which include herbicides, despite the negative impact this controversial chemical has on Bees, health and the local environment.  The use of Pesticides also contaminates our natural resources including water (1) (2) 

Many WFDC residents are concerned about the use of pesticides being applied in spaces where our Children, pets and local wildlife may come into contact with it.   Due to habitat loss and the large quantities of pesticides used in the UK wildlife such as bees, birds and hedgehogs are increasingly seeking refuge in our towns and cities.  However, the overuse of pesticides is destroying many of the areas where they forage for food and contaminating the natural resources they depend upon.  (2)

Pesticides are designed to kill living things such as insects and weeds, but they also have the potential to harm non-target species, including humans.  Children are particularly vulnerable and are more likely to play in areas that have been treated such as parks and schools!  Other vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and our elderly are also more at risk.  (2). Glyphosate is suspected to have a direct effect on human health.  The World Health Organisation says that Glyphosate is "classified as probably carcinogenic to humans", and research continues to confirm this.  (3) (4) 

We should no longer be exposed when safer alternatives are available.  As it stands, more than 96 UK councils of varying sizes have either banned or are well on their way to banning pesticides.  In fact, all of the towns and cities of both Belgium and France are now pesticide-free.  Hundred of other cities, towns and villages around the world successfully manage their public spaces without pesticides.  (1) (5)

What do we want?

We are simply asking Wyre Forest District Council to listen to the concerns of its people and phase out the use of all pesticides including Glyphosate in our area. 
There are many safe alternatives of weed control.  Alternatively leave the weeds altogether!  Weeds such as Dandelions are the first source of food in Spring for our Bees and other insects.  (5)

With such rapid biodiversity loss we need to protect and restore our green spaces, create wildflower havens.  So, leaving weeds in place and encouraging our council to ban the use of pesticides is a win-win situation for all!

In 2019 Wyre Forest District Council declared a Climate Emergency "We are taking the issue of climate change very seriously" and, in 2020 set-up a cross party advisory panel to lead on our green agenda and have instigated wildflower planting schemes on urban roundabouts, verges and within public parks and green spaces.  Now is the time to phase out Pesticides! Join our Facebook Group Pesticide Free Wyre Forest you don’t have to live here to benefit! 

Further Information

1.  Glyphosate found to have adverse effects on eathworms and beneficial insects. (Source: https://www.pan-uk.org/glyphosate/
2. Roundup is particularly harmful to Bees, studies show.  (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/sep/24/monsanto-weedkiller-harms-bees-research-finds
3. Glyphosate 'probably harmful to human's (Source: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/21/roundup-cancer-who-glyphosate
4. Impact of Glyphosate on human Health (Source: https://issuu.com/pan-uk/docs/glyphosate_monograph_complete?e=28041656/43997864 https://sustainablepulse.com/2021/03/26/bayer-admit-defeat-in-roundup-cancer-case-as-lawyers-push-back-on-future-payments/
5. Alternative Weed control solution (Source: https://www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free/  https://www.pan-uk.org/site/wp-content/uploads/Alternatives-to-herbicides-a-guide-for-the-amenity-sector.pdf?fbclid=IwAR2pex6CWBBIoIw1osgEqNl46NF-2_32BnS_syFCrvMHZu52ITY3muEZ5OM