Hollingdean neighbours are taking action to prevent glyphosate coming to their streets!

Did you know Brighton & Hove Council are now treating green growth on pavements and gutters with glyphosate, which is a toxic herbicide/pesticide harmful to human health as well as animals, birds and insects? There is a very high risk that pollinating insects and small mammals and birds that feed on them will be drastically affected, which affects our food supply. It also leaches into our chalk aquifers and water supply. Read about the dangers here. 

The first of three treatments will be applied in Hollingdean shortly. Not every area is being treated. You can see streets that will be affected on this map here

If you want to know more about how this situation has come about, Pesticide Action Network (PAN) explains here.

Don’t want Glyphosate? There is an alternative…

Councillors Time Rowkin and Theresa Fowler (Environment Committee) have told us that all green growth on pavements and in gutters in Hollingdean will be treated, except small wildflowers next to garden walls which are actually flowering.  

So, although many of us love our wildflowers, people in Hollingdean and across the city are getting together to remove pavement plants before gylphosate is used. There are plenty of alternative ways of doing this, including  manual weeding and using non-toxic household items such as vinegar, salt and hot water.

In Hollingdean neighbours in Hertford Road, Hollingdean Terrace, Barnet Road and Hollingbury Rise are already taking their own action. They are turning the problem around, getting to know their neighbours, enjoying tea and cake and chatting as well as weeding. The council’s Community Clean Up Team is helping as well by supplying equipment and taking the debris away.

Polly says “The Community Clean Up Team delivered all the tools and bin bags to us this afternoon. Residents in Hollingbury Rise cleared 2/3rds of the street & filled 14 bags in 1.5 hours and the Clean Up team have already collected everything.“

Would you like to get organized and protect yourselves, your loved ones and nature? Contact the Community Clean Up Team and sign up for equipment and support here communitycleanup@brighton-hove.gov.uk

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