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| Wildflowers such as these have now been lost to many parts of North East Lincolnshire as a result of the council's widespread application of 'weed'-killing chemicals |
A HUMBERSTON woman has launched a campaign for the spraying of toxic chemicals to cease forthwith on land owned by North East Lincolnshire Council. Katie Teakle has become increasingly dismayed by the extent of poisoning that is deployed on roadside verges and in parks, on play areas and playing fields. The purpose is to kill wildflowers - sometimes described as 'weeds'. But butterflies, bees and other pollinating insects also perish because these are places where they feed, mate and lay their eggs. They are (were) once also a favoured feeding place for foraging thrushes, blackbirds, finches and other songbirds. Says Katie: "Glyphosate is the herbicide most commonly sprayed by the council. "It is the active ingredient in products such as RoundUp." "This poison has many environmental impacts beyond its intended use: "It eliminates precious habitat and resources. "It is absorbed into the soil and is harmful to worms. "It also leaches into our waterways, entering drinking water aquifers where it is toxic to a whole spectrum of aquatic species." Katie says that Glyphosate has been identified as a ‘probable carcinogen’ by the World Health Organization, particularly affecting workers who use it regularly. She continues: "Exposure to small amounts is also hazardous to children playing in treated playgrounds, pregnant women and the elderly. "The chemical has been shown to worsen chronic conditions such as asthma. "But it doesn’t have to be this way. "More than 100 councils across Britain have either gone fully pesticide-free or made significant reductions. So why not NELC?" If not chemical spraying, what alternative does Katie propose? "There are plenty of options," she responds. "To name a few: preventative mulching, letting some unused areas grow wild, hand-weeding, hoeing, mechanical brushes and hot foam machines "There are many alternatives." According to Katie, a 2021 survey undertaken by NELC revealed that 87 per cent of respondents said they wanted the authority to place environmental welfare at the heart of everything they do She says: "More than 80 per cent of respondents said biodiversity was either important or very important." " We are calling on NELC to act and work with local residents to make positive change for biodiversity." Katie's petition is at: |
Above and below - it sometimes seems like the base of almost every tree and shrub in the borough has been subject to the council's poisoning regime
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