‘Pesticide’ is an umbrella term for any substance which is designed to control a pest or disease. Types of pesticides include herbicides (designed to kill plants), insecticides (insects), fungicides (fungi), [...]

The agricultural sector is the predominant user, applying pesticides to both grow and preserve food crops. These chemicals can create drift in the air and run-off into water sources, contaminating [...]

Pesticide use in urban areas only constitutes approximately 10% of the UK's total usage, but it is the second most common route through which people are exposed to pesticides (after [...]

Pesticides (usually herbicides) are used by councils and other land managers (such as universities and schools) to clear roads, pavements, playgrounds and other urban spaces of unwanted plant growth.  While [...]

Unless your council has made a commitment not to use pesticides, they could be using pesticides in the following places: Roads and highways Pavements (including along walls, in gutters, between [...]

No. From their years of experience helping various bodies to go pesticide-free, PAN UK advises councils to adopt a three-year phase out plan.  Councils need the time to assess their [...]

There are many effective and sustainable alternatives to herbicides available for managing weeds in the urban setting. There is no single approach that will accommodate the needs of every council [...]

Many councils have commitments to protecting and improving biodiversity in their local areas, but most of them continue to use pesticides. Pesticides are toxic chemicals designed to kill living things, [...]

Pesticides do not only affect the environment but can also damage human health.  In the urban setting, we are exposed to pesticides when spending time in spaces that have recently [...]

Land managers - including local councils - are not required to provide any warning, either before or after pesticide application has taken place. It is therefore impossible for pet owners [...]