Glyphosate weed killer
We are committed to reducing the use of glyphosate. We will use it on a restricted spot application basis, except with invasive species like giant hogweed and Japanese knotweed.
Our commitments
- Reducing use of glyphosate annually:
- in line with our Biodiversity Action plan.
- following Scottish Government guidance to avoid blanket treatment with glyphosate, except with invasive species.
- reducing the amount of grass edges treated e.g. spay edges where required at walls and fence lines, but not treat grass edges at kerb lines. (Some additional strimming will be undertaken.)
- Introduce a system to allow community groups to adopt areas that will not be weed killed.
- Create pollinator habitats annually in our larger open spaces, and encourage community groups to adopt these.
- Avoid first spray of grass edges until late May to allow bees and other pollinators to feed on dandelions etc.
- Continue to trial alternative weed control methods and products.
- All staff who apply weed killers are suitably trained and certificated.
To address public concerns, the Land and Countryside section also plans these changes:
- Stop use of weed killer in play areas and on grass pitches. Strimming and trimming grass edges on two occasions instead of weed killing (unless dealing with invasive weeds).
- Replace treatments to the front edges of grass areas with two strims a year. (Sorry, this won’t look quite as neat.)
- Trial low volume sprayers to cut herbicide use.
- Trial various sweeper options.
- Put up signs with ‘Pardon the weeds, we're feeding the bees signage’ to explain the changes to the public.
Current working practices
We treat roads and pavements, grass edges, shrub beds, and around obstacles and trees.
Edges we do not spray:
Edges we do spray:
Details of areas for treatment
This is very weather dependent, as we won’t spray in the rain or in windy conditions.
Glyphosate products we use
We will most often use:
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