Herbicide and pesticide use in South Ribble

Herbicide and pesticide use in South Ribble

Part of South Ribble Biodiversity Strategy (biodiversity-strategy-2022) and Action Plan (srbc-biodiversity-action-plan-2023) promise was to continue to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides wherever possible and to promote the use of environmentally friendly and natural pest deterrents and weed removal measures.

Pesticides – a substance used to eliminate pests (insect, animal, weed etc.)

Herbicides – is a type of pesticide that is toxic to plants (a weedkiller).  

As part of this promise we have looked at the amount of herbicide that we use across the Borough and created a baseline to work from.

The products we use are -

Nomix – 120g/litre glyphosate

Mentor - 360g/litre glyphosate

The spike in the total figure in 2023/24 is due to a move to a reduced glyphosate content product.  The reduced glyphosate content has resulted in increased use of the product and the need to retreat some areas.  

Overall, the quantity of product being used has increased but the glyphosate content has reduced by 5% between 2022/23 and 2024/25.

Weather conditions each year will impact on the growing rate of weeds, and this has a knock-on effect on the amount of herbicide we may need to use, meaning that a spike in usage rates may be observed.

Three quarters of our herbicide use is on highways.  This is to proactively keep weeds in check in adopted backs, in road channels and gutters, on pavements and around obstacles.  

The other one quarter is used on our parks and open spaces. 

• to treat Invasive Non-Native Species What are invasive non-native species? | Biodiversity - the importance | South Ribble
• To make obstacles safe (bollards not obscured by long grass)
• To treat hard surfaces such as block paving where weeds establish beyond well-trodden areas.

All our operatives are trained and qualified in the safe use and application of herbicides and our machinery is regularly maintained, tested and calibrated. We are committed to supporting best practice and comply with the Codes of Practice for using pesticides.

Alternative methods

There are many alternatives being trialled as a replacement for herbicide use, such as hot steam, hot foam and hot air. mulching or increased road sweeping, but as yet, despite trials by many Councils across the country, a suitable, practical, cost-effective, large-scale replacement hasn’t been found. 

While our research continues, we are looking to reduce herbicide use on our parks and open spaces across the Borough by using the lowest amounts and frequencies possible.  This means that you will see more weed growth and parks may not be as ‘neat and tidy’ as they once were. 

• We will be allowing grass to grow long around tree bases.
• We will be strimming around obstacles in some areas rather than spraying, so vegetation will regrow quicker.
• Some area will be left unmanaged
• More hedgerow bases will be left to grow in areas where this doesn’t impede access or sight lines
• We will be mulching shrub and flower beds

This is a deliberate action to help our local wildlife thrive and not an attempt to cut costs.  In fact, changing to alternative methods will increase our labour costs as it is more labour intensive and time consuming to strim around obstacles rather than spray off the weed growth.

This action is in line with the new UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025 (LINK - Nature boost: Government launches first action plan on pesticides in a decade - GOV.UK).  This Plan addresses the long-term need for UK food security and boosting productivity whilst ensuring the health and resilience of our pollinators. It sets reduction targets for the use of pesticides to a 10% reduction by 2030 (based on 2018 baseline)