Pesticide use is having a devastating effect on our wildlife and environment. It is also clear that it can affect our own health too. Most of the pesticides sprayed in our public areas, such as grass verges are a herbicide that includes glyphosate. This ingredient was declared by the world health organisation in 2015 as probably carcinogenic but still continues to be used today.

It is also partly responsible for the decline in wildlife numbers. Pesticides are non targeted so that even if the chemical is only applied direct to the intended target such as weeds, it can still affect wildlife in the surrounding area, either by wind or run off into our brooks and rivers.

Weeds are constantly becoming immune to the herbicides so that higher levels are being used. This therefore creates a vicious circle which we cannot win, but will ultimately cause more destruction

We urge our council to consider the many safer alternatives available to make our villages pesticide free, so they become a safer environment for us all.