Study: More than half of UK councils use 'harmful' pesticides in public spaces

clock • 4 min read
Credit: iStock
Image:

Credit: iStock

Councils reported using a total of 354 tonnes of pesticides in 2024, according to the Pesticide Action Network

More than half of UK councils continue to use pesticides for weedkilling in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds, and pavements, despite widespread environmental and health concerns over their use....

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

Author spotlight

Amber Rolt

View profile
More from Amber Rolt

'Carbon pawprint': Dogs' dinners can have greater climate impact than their owners

'Nature and food production go hand in hand': Farmers urge government to support shift away from industrial livestock production

More on Biodiversity

Public donations to Rothbury Estate nature restoration appeal pass £10m mark
Biodiversity

Public donations to Rothbury Estate nature restoration appeal pass £10m mark

It follows support from Sir David Attenborough for the campaign, which aims to raise £30m in total to secure the historic 9,500 acre Northumberland estate to transform it into a haven for nature

Mia Willemsen, Farmers Guardian
clock 07 January 2026 • 2 min read
Study: Climate-driven extreme weather events shifting natural cycles of plants and wildlife
Biodiversity

Study: Climate-driven extreme weather events shifting natural cycles of plants and wildlife

Study reveals growing evidence of how climate change is impacting a raft of natural processes, with significant implications for biodiversity and food systems

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 05 January 2026 • 3 min read
Over £500,000 fenced off for green projects in Greater Manchester
Biodiversity

Over £500,000 fenced off for green projects in Greater Manchester

Over half a million pounds awarded to 19 community-led projects in sixth round of the Mayor of Greater Manchester's Green Spaces Fund

Stuart Stone
Stuart Stone
clock 05 January 2026 • 3 min read