Reduced chemical street weeding trials - Final survey
Overview
Since April 2024, we have been running three trials on select roads in St Margarets and North Twickenham, to test greener methods of removing wild plants on public streets and reduce the use of a chemical herbicide called glyphosate, looking at effectiveness and environmental criteria.
As part of our response to the climate emergency, we are committed to reducing our environmental impacts, protecting local biodiversity and ensuring the borough is a safe and healthy place for people to live and work.
Reducing chemical herbicides
Like other councils, we have historically used a weed killer containing glyphosate to control street plant growth. We have reduced the quantity used in recent years, including no longer spraying this around the base of street trees.
You can read more about glyphosate via the Related Links at the bottom of this page.
Residents have previously raised concerns to us about the use of glyphosate on public streets and asked us to consider alternative methods of controlling street plant growth.
Actions
In response to concerns raised, our Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee set about taking action. This led to the development and implementation of three limited trials, run on select roads in St Margarets & North Twickenham.
These trials have allowed us to test different reduced-glyphosate approaches to removing problematic street weeds, such as:
- Those likely to damage the pavement surface
- Weeds that pose a trip or slip hazard
- Weeds that affect street drainage
- Weeds that obstruct pedestrians
Through the trials, we’ve aimed to explore potential solutions that will protect our local environment and safeguard valuable wildlife that forage and shelter on wild plants, while still ensuring that problematic weeds are dealt with appropriately.
Trial approaches are as follows:
| Trial 1 - A wholly manual aproach to weeding | Trial 2 - Acetic acid (vinegar) removal system | Trial 3 - A 50% reduction in glyphosate (against the current use) |
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This trial has taken a wholly manual approach to weed removal. Our street cleansing team have come in fortnightly to remove problematic weeds (as identified above), either by hand or using mechanical wire brushes in kerb channels.
View the roads where this trial is taking place.
This trial has also included a volunteer-based community weeding scheme. |
This trial has replaced the three annual glyphosate sprays with acetic acid (vinegar) sprayed directly onto problematic weeds.
Our street cleansing team has used knapsack sprayers to target problem plants, spraying approximately once per month from April to September.
View the roads where this trial is taking place.
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Roads in this trial area have previously received three glyphosate weed sprays per year.
Since April, the roads where this trial is taking place have received either one or two sprays per year, timed to maximise efficiency and remove problem weeds. |
Map of trial areas
You can find out more about the trials here.
Have your say
If you live, work or spend a lot of time in one of the trial areas, we want to hear your thoughts on the success of the trials to date, particularly as we reach the end of the growing season. It’s very important to us to understand locals’ perspectives of these trials on an ongoing basis.
Please give us your feedback by clicking the Online Survey link below. If you need any help completing the survey or if you need a paper copy or a different format, please call 020 8871 8506 or email weedingtrialslbr@richmond.gov.uk.
What happens next?
We will compare residents’ opinions received through this survey with the results of a similar survey about weeding practices in the borough conducted before the trials commenced. This will help us assess the relative success and effectiveness of each of the three alternative weed control approaches being trialled.
Survey feedback will also be reviewed and considered alongside the direct feedback received from residents over the past several months. We would like to thank those who have submitted valuable feedback to us as the trials have progressed.
The Council’s Environment, Sustainability, Culture and Sports Committee will make a decision about the way forward once the trials have been completed at the end of 2024.
Areas
- St. Margarets & North Twickenham
Audiences
- Residents
Interests
- Richmond Borough
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