PESTICIDE-FREE TOWNS
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A snapshot of pesticide use by UK councils after a decade of campaigning
July 2025
July 2025
Introduction
When the Pesticide-Free Towns campaign launched in 2015, pesticide use in public spaces was an invisible issue As far as PAN UK is aware, at the time, every council in the UK used pesticides The vast majority of these chemicals were herbicides used to remove vegetation (or ‘weeds’) from land under council control, including streets and parks The general public – and even those within the environmental movement – were unaware that pesticides were used outside of farming, let alone that these toxic chemicals were sprayed right outside our own homes and in the public spaces frequented by our families and pets . The value of urban biodiversity remained largely unrecognised, as did the extent of the global nature crisis Political decision-makers, even those with pesticides in their remit, rarely if ever referenced urban pesticide use Neither the UK government nor local authorities had plans or policies in place aimed at reducing the UK’s second most common route of pesticide exposure after diet
Ten years later and the picture is very different Following a decade of campaigning, dozens of councils across the UK are taking action to reduce and even end their pesticide use (see Annex 2 for those leading the way) . While some of this change has been the result of PAN UK’s direct work advising councils, local residents all over the UK have mobilised to call for their own councils to phase out pesticides Public campaigning in places from major urban centres such as London, Manchester and Derry to largely rural counties such as Devon, has yielded great results and demonstrated that the majority of people – once aware that pesticides are being used in their local public spaces – do want them to go pesticide-free
As the demand for non-chemical weed management approaches has grown (not only from councils but also other major land managers such as South West Water and Transport for London to name but a few), increasing numbers of nonchemical alternatives have come onto the market Meanwhile, public awareness of both the global nature crisis and the fact that the UK is one of the most-nature depleted countries in the world1, has risen hugely with urban biodiversity increasingly
touted as one of the many solutions Since the pandemic, far more people understand the benefits to well-being from spending time in nature The Pesticide-Free Towns campaign, which was initially focused more on protecting human health, has increasingly broadened out to advocate for the immense benefits to both people and wildlife of allowing greener towns and cities to flourish.
Thanks to all this activity at the local level, national level decision makers are now taking notice . Sian Berry MP has tabled a bill2 in the House of Commons which would phase out urban pesticide use by local authorities in England In June 2025, Chemicals Minister Emma Hardy stated in a letter to PAN UK “The land that is managed by local councils and authorities matters deeply to the people who live there and use it, and therefore it matters to me. You have made it clear that we can balance effective weed management and sustainability – now I want to see your hardwon learnings shared across local government, to reduce unnecessary pesticide use across this important sector ”3
It has taken ten years of campaigning to get to this stage, but it can be argued that we have now reached a tipping point There is still a long way to go, with the majority of UK councils continuing to use pesticides in public spaces However, the ever-growing Pesticide-Free Towns movement has never been stronger and our ultimate goal of making all the UK’s public spaces pesticide-free is now within reach
For the sake of both human health and the environment, there is an increasing awareness that we urgently need to reduce our overall chemical exposure Ending the use of pesticides in villages, towns and cities – the vast majority of which is for purely cosmetic reasons – is a relatively easy place to start .
Which pesticides are used in the UK’s public spaces?
While it is estimated that pesticide use in urban areas only constitutes approximately ten percent of the UK’s total usage, it is the second most common route through which people are exposed to pesticides (after diet)
The vast majority of pesticides used by UK local councils are herbicides (or ‘weedkillers’) aimed at removing plants from hard surfaces such as streets, pavements, pathways and on housing estates under council control They are also used in green spaces, most notably parks, playgrounds, sports pitches, road verges and cemeteries
Urban pesticides officially come under the heading of ‘amenity use’ According to the UK government’s latest survey on the use of amenity pesticides4, there are currently 36 different pesticide active substances being used by local authorities 19 of these active substances are herbicides, with four classified as Highly Hazardous Pesticides (HHPs) meaning that they pose a particularly high risk to human health and/or the environment
By far the most widely used pesticide active substance is glyphosate The local authorities which responded to the government’s latest amenity survey reported using a total of 21,075kg of glyphosate in 2020, making up 96% of all the pesticide active substances they applied Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC, part of the UN World Health Organisation) declared glyphosate to be genotoxic (it causes DNA damage), carcinogenic to animals, and a “probable carcinogen” to humans 5 This ruling was based on a review of one thousand publicly available scientific studies by independent experts. Meanwhile, since 2018, there have been a spate of US court cases linking Monsanto’s Roundup –which contains glyphosate as its key ingredient – to the potential risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a type of cancer) It is worth noting that many of these cases were linked to nonagricultural activities such as grounds maintenance and landscape gardening . Landmark legal defeats for Monsanto (now Bayer) have resulted in jury verdicts worth billions 6
Glyphosate received a new ten-year license from the European Commission in 2023 However, due to concerns over its impacts on human health and the environment, its license was renewed with the condition that Member States “Minimise or prohibit the use in public spaces, such as parks, public playgrounds and gardens.”7 , 8 Unfortunately, this has been largely ignored by the UK government and many local councils
At the time of writing (July 2025), glyphosate comes up for renewal in Great Britain in December 2026 However, the UK-EU ‘Common Understanding’ deal9, signed in May 2025, is likely to result in the UK adopting EU pesticide active substance approvals meaning that glyphosate would stay on the market in the UK until 2033 There is, however, nothing in the deal to prevent the UK going further than the EU by banning the use of glyphosate (and all other pesticides) in public spaces
Pesticide application on a street in London Credit George Hudson
What have other countries done on urban pesticides?
Due to concerns over its impacts, the use of glyphosate in urban areas has already been banned in Luxemburg, Italy, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands .
France has gone even further, introducing national legislation that came into force in January 2017 which banned the use of almost all nonagricultural pesticides – meaning that all public spaces throughout France are managed without the use of pesticides 10 Paris itself has been pesticidefree for more than a decade, proving to the world that it is possible to maintain a pristine city without chemicals during the 2024 summer Olympics
In Belgium, towns and cities in the regions of Flanders and Wallonia have stopped the use of pesticides completely . The City of Ghent, which has more than a quarter of a million residents, has been completely pesticide-free for over twenty years Other big European cities (such as Barcelona and Hamburg) have stopped using glyphosate and, in Canada and the USA, there is an ever-growing momentum to stop the use of pesticides in urban areas, including in parks and playgrounds This trend will only grow as evidence of the harms caused by glyphosate specifically and pesticides more generally continues to increase, as does the range of available non-chemical alternatives .
Accessibility – the importance of consultation
As many towns and cities have proven, it is perfectly possible to go pesticide-free without negatively impacting upon accessibility for local residents However, if you don’t set out or keep to a clear strategy, then reducing or ending your pesticide use sometimes leads to unchecked plant growth which can restrict the ability of certain people to use and enjoy their local public spaces This is especially true of disabled people and the elderly but can also affect those using prams or buggies
It is vital that councils ensure that the rights and needs of those who struggle with access are taken into consideration when designing and implementing their pesticide phase-out plans The best way to do this is to explicitly include consulting with local groups and networks that represent disabled and elderly people in public outreach initiatives and review throughout, to ensure that there isn’t plant growth in spaces that would make their already-challenging use of urban spaces harder These groups will be best-placed to represent the voices and concerns of their members and advise on how best to go pesticidefree while maintaining accessibility
Cemeteries in Paris are partly mown, brushed or left wild to encourage biodiversity Credit PAN UK
Impacts of urban pesticides
Impacts on health
Pesticides do not only affect the organisms they are targeted at, but can have negative, and often unforeseen, impacts on non-target organisms including people In terms of the impacts on human health, some groups are more vulnerable to the effects of pesticides than others Children in particular are more susceptible for a number of reasons; their bodies are still developing, they are exposed to greater amounts of pesticides relative to their body weight and they tend to be more directly in contact with sprayed areas such as playgrounds, parks and sports pitches
Whilst it is very difficult to directly link particular instances of chronic ill health with exposure to specific chemicals, we do know that certain pesticides have qualities that can cause serious health conditions . Long term pesticide exposure has been linked to the development of various cancers, reproductive and developmental problems Parkinson’s disease; asthma; depression and anxiety; and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
It is important to note that just because a pesticide is approved for use does not automatically mean it is “safe” to use The dangers they pose are precisely the reason why they are regulated and, even when approved, most licenses include specific conditions which must be followed to control the harm from these chemicals
The Precautionary Principle is an internationally agreed standard for guiding decision-making to ensure that harms to human health and the natural environment are avoided It states that: “When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even if some causeand-effect relationships are not fully established scientifically” 11 The principle is particularly relevant to decision-making around pesticides In practice, it means that if there is sufficient evidence that a pesticide harms human health or the environment then it shouldn’t be used, regardless of whether some scientific uncertainty remains.
Although the regulatory system is designed to take the harmful effects of pesticides into account, we have seen time and time again that pesticides are authorised only to be banned later when more evidence emerges revealing the harms they have caused . Sadly, by that point the harmful, and often irreversible, effects have occurred and either people or wildlife (and often both) have paid the price . Since pesticides are designed to kill living organisms and their potential for harm is well-known, a precautionary approach to their use is simple; do not use pesticides when viable non-chemical alternatives are available In the UK amenity sector, there are increasing numbers of non-chemical alternatives available and adopting a pesticide-free approach is perfectly possible to achieve . In fact, many councils around the UK and beyond are already proving that it is possible
One aspect that the regulatory system completely fails to take into account is the so called ‘cocktail effect’ which refers to the fact that people are exposed to combinations of multiple pesticides on a daily basis Recent research has shown that combinations of chemicals can work synergistically to increase harmful effects that would not necessarily result from exposure to just one pesticide . In addition to amenity spraying, people are exposed to pesticides in multiple ways – most notably as residues in their food – so are constantly coming into contact with cocktails of chemicals Reducing our overall exposure by stopping their use in public spaces would help to decrease the risk of harmful health impacts, particularly for the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and pregnant people .
Pesticides, including glyphosate, have also been known to cause injury to pets, most commonly to dogs but also cats, rabbits and horses Exposure tends to happen either directly through the skin or orally if an animal eats grass or plays with objects that have come into contact with pesticides In dogs, the most common symptoms include vomiting, hyper-salivation and diarrhoea due to gastrointestinal irritation In severe cases, acute poisoning could lead to death .
Threats to the natural environment
Pesticides are also negatively affecting the environment and urban biodiversity Due to habitat loss and the large quantities of pesticides used in UK agriculture, wildlife is increasingly seeking refuge in our towns and cities . However, pesticides are destroying many of the areas where they can forage for food and contaminating the natural resources they depend upon
Overuse of herbicides is reducing the number and variety of plants in our towns and cities, including ‘weeds’ such as dandelions, which in turn limits the ability of wildlife to survive and prosper Their use is also reducing the abundance and diversity of native and much-loved British plant species . Most councils in the UK still look to remove all plants from streets, parks, and playgrounds The term ‘weed’ has a pejorative connotation for what is effectively just a flower or plant deemed to be in the wrong place In fact, these plants play a valuable role in supporting bees, pollinators, birds, and many other species that use them for forage or shelter For more information, see our Pavement Plant Guide which is available at: www.pan-uk.org/pavement-plants
In recent years, the issue of dwindling bee and pollinator numbers has caught the attention of the British public There are a growing number of campaigns calling for councils to adopt ‘no mow’ regimes on road verges and other areas that can be good pollinator habitats According to the campaign group Plantlife, as well as providing habitats for many of our hard-pressed bee and pollinator species, road verges are also home to over 700 species of wildflower – nearly 45% of our total flora – including 29 of 52 species of wild orchid . 12 Ending pesticide use and stopping mowing are key ways in which councils can contribute to halting the recent declines in pollinators and other insects
Recent and ongoing research is clearly demonstrating that glyphosate, the most widely used pesticide in the amenity sector, is causing harm to bees and other insect pollinators The harms are twofold Firstly, herbicides destroy their habitats and, secondly, glyphosate in particular has the potential to directly harm bee health .
Road verges are home to over 700 species of wildflower – nearly 45% of our total flora – including 29 of 52 species of wild orchid . 12
For more information, see PAN UK’s report – “Herbicides: A threat to bee and pollinator survival” – which is available at: www.pan-uk.org/herbicides-and-pollinators/
Pesticides are also a significant contributor to the contamination of much of the UK’s water supplies since they tend to run off hard surfaces such as pavements and paths Hard surface spraying is the most common practice in the amenity sector, despite aquatic ecosystems being particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides . Populations of invertebrates, amphibians, fish and the wildlife that feeds on them can all be impacted by the presence of pesticides in water bodies
Contamination of water supplies is also a big problem for UK citizens As a result of health concerns, water companies in England and Wales spend millions of pounds each year removing pesticides from drinking water This cost is passed on to the consumer resulting in higher water bills South West Water, for example, estimates that 17% of the amount of its customers’ bills results from passing on the cost of pesticide removal 13 In December 2023, Southern Water wrote to Brighton & Hove Council stating that: “...from a groundwater quality risk perspective, we do not support the use of glyphosate within any of the groundwater catchments in Brighton and Worthing from which we abstract drinking water for customers . ”14
KEY FINDINGS
In early 2025, we sent hundreds of Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to councils across the UK asking about their use of pesticides in public spaces The results tell a fascinating story about how far the Pesticide-Free Towns movement has come in the last decade . Urban pesticide use was an entirely invisible issue in 2015. Ten years later, we have more than one hundred and fifty councils taking positive steps towards ending or reducing their use of pesticides This is a huge achievement and testament to the hard work and dedication of campaigners, local elected officials and council officers.
Methodology – what did we do?
Between January and May 2025, we sent Freedom of Information (FoI) requests to a total of 390 local authorities in all four UK nations . We included city, borough, district and county councils The list of councils we purchased from a third party also included a handful of town councils to which we also sent FoI requests See Annex 1 on page 30 for the full list of councils we contacted .
Of the 390 councils we contacted, we received responses from 368 - a response rate of 94% . The following table shows the breakdown of numbers of responses for each of the four nations of the UK
Table 1: Responses received from FoI requests to UK councils
Total number of UK councils sent FoI requests
We asked councils a total of five questions, all focused on their use of urban pesticides in 2024
Firstly, we asked if each council, or contractors acting on its behalf, use herbicide in the following six areas under its control:
i Parks and green spaces
ii . Cemeteries
iii Playing fields
iv Road verges and roundabouts
v Hard surfaces such as pavements and highways
vi Housing estates
We also asked the following four questions:
6 What volume/weight of herbicides did the council and any contractors acting on its behalf use in 2024?
6 Does the council (or its contractors) use glyphosate-based herbicides?
6 How much money did the council spend on herbicides in 2024, not only on purchasing the chemicals but also on associated costs such as application equipment, staff training and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)?
6 Does the council have a policy in place aimed at reducing or ending the use of herbicides on land under its control?
As the responses came in, we inputted them into a database to make them easily accessible to residents wanting to find out if their local council uses pesticides . We also set about analysing them to identify overall trends, both UK-wide and within the four nations
UK councils – the overall picture
Our analysis reveals that around 45% of the 368 UK councils that responded to our FoI requests have either ended their pesticide use or taken positive steps towards this goal (see Annex 1 on page 30 for the full list of councils we contacted)
It is worth noting that a total of 101 UK councils have policies, strategies or other documented commitments in place aimed at reducing and/or ending their pesticide use
These figures show that huge progress has been made in reducing pesticide use by local authorities over the past decade . However, they also highlight that there is still a long way to go before the UK can join the ranks of countries such as France and Denmark where all public spaces are managed without pesticides Table 2 shows the detail
Looking more closely at the specific areas where councils use pesticides reveals that more than a quarter of councils are managing their parks and green spaces (including children’s play areas) without pesticides PAN UK‘s three-year phase-out plan15 advises councils to focus year one on ending pesticide use in parks and green spaces and this has been adopted by many local authorities . However, it seems that pesticide use on pathways in parks remains an issue for some
Hard surfaces remain the most problematic areas for councils in terms of ending their use of pesticides . Both highways and pavements tend to cover large areas which can be an issue for manual weed removal methods With pavements in particular, there can be issues related to accessibility and protection of infrastructure that need to be taken into consideration . However, alternatives to pesticide such as hot foam are becoming more widely available and accepted as an effective control measure for hard surfaces and this will only increase as more councils seek to go pesticide-free (see page 26 for more on alternatives)
What do the UK public want?
YouGov polling conducted in June 2025 reveals that the majority of people in the UK support ending pesticide use in urban spaces Two-thirds of people (65%) agree that “schools, parks, playgrounds and other public spaces in their local area should be pesticide-free”, with a third strongly agreeing Only 11% disagree Meanwhile, more than half (55%) would be “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements in their local area if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides” 16
Table 2: Summary of results from FoI responses from UK councils to PAN UK .
KEY FINDINGS
Results from the UK’s four nations
We have also split the findings into the four nations of the UK. These figures are particularly noteworthy because urban pesticide use is a devolved competency, meaning that different policies can be adopted in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales While the governments of the four nations have tended to seek consistency in decision-making on chemicals, it is perfectly possible for the Northern Irish, Scottish or Welsh parliaments to decide unilaterally to phase out urban pesticide use and assist its own councils to adopt non-chemical alternatives
As such, it is useful to look at the current status of urban pesticide in each nation A closer look reveals that there are some clear differences in approaches across the UK’s four nations which are reflected in the findings outlined in the following sections.
Overall picture for English councils
It can be argued that, of all the four nations, England has made the most progress on ending urban pesticide use . Of the 303 English councils that responded to our FoI requests, around 45% have either ended their pesticide use or taken positive steps towards this goal (see Annex 1 on page 30 for the full list of councils we contacted)
It is worth noting that a total of 86 English councils have policies, strategies or other
documented commitments in place aimed at reducing and/or ending their pesticide use
When taken as a whole, English councils are situated around the median across all eight of the categories included in tables 2-7 As with councils across the UK, hard surfaces remain the most problematic area for English councils to end their pesticide use
What do English residents want?
The polling results for England align with those of the UK Two-thirds of people in England (65%) agree that “public spaces in their local area should be pesticidefree” and more than half (55%) are “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides”
There are, however, some major regional differences The highest level of support for going pesticide-free is in the East of England where three-quarters of people (75%) agree that public spaces should be pesticide-free, and 61% are happy to accept ‘weedier’ pavements However, it is notable that even in the Midlands – the region of England with the lowest support – a considerable proportion of the population are still in favour of ending urban pesticide use with 59% wanting their public spaces to be pesticide-free and 49% happy to accept more weeds 17
Table 3: Summary of results from FoI responses from English councils.
Overall picture for Northern Irish councils
Three of Northern Ireland’s eleven councils have pesticide reduction plans in place, and a total of six have taken positive steps to reduce their pesticide use
Derry City Council, in particular, has taken great strides in going pesticide-free following a concerted campaign by local organisations supported by some councillors . Derry City Council no longer uses pesticides in their parks and green spaces, cemeteries, road verges or housing estates and, in 2024, used only 27 litres of herbicide .
What do Northern Irish residents want?
Public support for going pesticide-free is fairly strong in Northern Ireland, although is slightly less than in England and Wales 57% of the public agree that “schools, parks, playgrounds and other public spaces in their local area should be pesticide-free”, with over a quarter (27%) strongly agreeing Only 14% disagree
Meanwhile, half (50%) would be “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements in their local area if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides” A quarter of people (26%) said they would not be happy to accept more weeds, with the remainder either answering ‘neither agree or disagree’ (17%) or ‘don’t know’ (7%) . 22
Campaigning for a Pesticide-Free Derry Credit Hive Cancer Support
Table 4: Summary of results from FoI responses from Northern Irish councils.
KEY FINDINGS
A closer look at London
In total, 23 of London’s 33 councils (32 borough councils plus the City of London Corporation) have either ended pesticide use entirely or are moving in that direction. This equates to 70% of London councils. In addition, some other borough councils, for example Havering, are developing pesticide reduction initiatives which are not currently counted in our figures but will have positive outcomes in the coming years.
Currently, fifteen London councils (45% of the total) have pesticide reduction strategies or similar documented commitments in place.
These high figures reflect the fact that London has been a focus for PAN UK’s Pesticide-Free Towns campaign since 2018. There have been some notable success stories; in 2016, Hammersmith & Fulham Council18 became the first large local authority in the UK to go pesticide-free, ending the use of glyphosate and adopting the hot foam system for weed control
on its streets. Lambeth has been a leader in public engagement as an effective way of helping end the use of herbicides, running a highly successful and much lauded “Community Weeding Scheme”19 as a precursor to ending pesticide use across the borough.
There has been a willingness from both elected councillors and council officers to engage both with PAN UK and each other to find sustainable nonchemical solutions to weed management. This has helped drive forward progress in the capital and highlight the importance of peer-to-peer learning between councils. At the higher level, the Greater London Authority (GLA) and London Mayor have acknowledged the need to reduce the amount of pesticides being used in order to protect London’s biodiversity and the health of its citizens. The Mayor’s 2018 London Environment Strategy 20 includes a chapter on “leading by example” which commits the GLA to “reducing the use of pesticides”.
Table 5: Summary of results from FoI responses from London councils .
While the GLA doesn’t itself manage a significant amount of land, it has helped guide some key players (such as Transport for London) to look at reducing their own use of pesticides. It has also provided much-needed leadership to London borough councils by setting out a clear direction of travel. This is a role that bodies such as Defra and the Local Government Association will hopefully start to play at the national level.
What do London residents want?
Support for going pesticide-free amongst Londoners remains high and above the national average. 66% of residents of the capital agree that “schools, parks, playgrounds and other public spaces in their local area should be pesticide-free”, with only 9% in disagreement. Meanwhile, 56% of people in London said they are “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides”. Only one in five Londoners (19%) said they wouldn’t be happy to accept ‘weedier’ streets, compared to roughly one in four (23%) across the UK.21
Pesticide application in a park in Hillingdon Credit PAN UK
KEY FINDINGS
Overall picture for Scottish councils
Our analysis reveals that 14 of Scotland’s 32 councils have implemented measures to reduce their pesticide use Seven of the Scottish councils that responded to our FoI requests have pesticide reduction policies in place
What do Scottish residents want?
Polling reveals decent support in Scotland for going pesticide-free, although it is lower than in some other parts of the UK 63% of people agree with the statement that “schools, parks, playgrounds and other public spaces in their local area should be pesticide-free” (the overall UK figure is 65%). Only 47% of people in Scotland were “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements in their local area if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides” This is less than the UK average of 55% and the lowest of all four nations (i e England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) 23
Table 6: Summary of results from FoI responses from Scottish councils.
Posters calling for the council to end pesticide use in Edinburgh Credit Pesticide-Free Balerno
Overall picture for Welsh councils
Ten Welsh councils that responded to our FoI request have either ended their pesticide use or taken positive steps towards this goal
While Wales enjoys the highest percentage of all four nations in terms of councils whose parks, green spaces and playing fields are pesticide-free, there remains a lot of work to do in major cities such as Swansea and Cardiff . However, the Welsh government has shown the most interest in ending urban pesticides of any devolved administration and has stated an intention to reduce the use of urban pesticides throughout Wales 24
What do Welsh residents want?
Support for going pesticide-free is strongest in Wales, beating the other nations as well as the UK-wide figures. 69% of Welsh people agree that “schools, parks, playgrounds and other public spaces in their local area should be pesticide-free”, with a third strongly agreeing Only 7% disagree, far below the UK average of 11% . Meanwhile, more than 57% would be “happy to accept more weeds on the pavements in their local area if it meant better protecting humans and wildlife from pesticides” . Again, this exceeds the UK average of 55% 25
* We received responses from the 22 principal Welsh councils plus St Asaph Town council
Pesticide application in a park in Cardiff Credit Hilary May
Table 7: Summary of results from FoI responses from Welsh councils.
How much money are councils spending on pesticides?
Our Freedom of Information requests asked each council how much it had spent on costs associated to buying and using herbicides in 2024. We asked councils to state all costs, including but not limited to; buying pesticide products, purchase of application equipment and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), staff training and costs associated to outsourcing to contractors.
The 368 councils that responded to our FoI requests, reported spending a total of £14.1 million on pesticides in 2024. Given the four nations’ different sizes, figures unsurprisingly varied greatly by nation. Northern Ireland spent the least with £93,000, then Wales on £1.5 million, Scotland next on £2.2 million and England by far the most with £10.2 million. Spend also differed hugely between individual councils, with £9.15 being the lowest amount reported by one borough council all the way up to £598,000 spent by one county council.
However, these figures are likely to be an underestimation. 21% of councils that responded to our FoI requests (79 of the 368) declined to provide figures for how much money they spent on applying herbicides in 2024.
In addition, while we did ask councils to include all associated costs, many provided figures solely for the amount they spent buying herbicide products. This is misleading but unfortunately common. In fact, when comparing the cost of using pesticides versus non-chemical alternatives, many councils will only factor in the price of buying the actual herbicide products. This distorts price comparisons by ignoring a range of other associated expenses, making pesticides seem cheaper than they are in reality. For example, unlike most non-chemical alternatives, anyone using pesticides professionally must have a certificate of competence which must be purchased. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is also vitally important to keep operators safe and will need frequent replacement if it is to remain in a satisfactory condition. In addition, pesticides
can legally only be applied in certain weather conditions. Repeated changes to spraying schedules caused by rain and wind cost councils money. While it is hard to calculate exactly how much, this should be factored in.
What the figures do show is that UK councils are currently spending large amounts of public funds on applying pesticides for weed control in public spaces. While ending the use of pesticides can increase costs for councils, it is also possible for a pesticide-free approach to lead to significant cost-savings. As just one of many examples, Hackney Borough Council in London saved £10,000 per year simply by stopping spraying pesticides on busy streets where footfall was sufficient to prevent weeds from establishing.
Cost savings are particularly possible to achieve when councils take a long-term view. Looking at costs over the short-term can sometimes be alarming when factoring in items such as capital outlay on new machinery or employing extra staff for hand weeding. However, experience from councils that have gone pesticide-free shows that, over time, costs will come down significantly while maintenance standards will be comparable to using pesticides.
For advice and tips, see PAN UK’s briefing “Cost saving approaches for going pesticidefree” which is available here: www.pan-uk. org/site/wp-content/uploads/Cost-savingapproaches-to-going-pesticide-free.pdf
KEY FINDINGS
Lack of government data on urban pesticide use
PAN UK has spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours pulling together this snapshot of pesticide use by UK councils Rather than be left to civil society, providing accurate data on pesticide is clearly a job for government This is particularly true in the case of urban pesticide use by councils, since it is funded by taxpayers’ money
The UK government does publish the “Amenity Pesticide Usage Report” which provides data on pesticide use by councils and other nonagricultural sectors such as transport infrastructure and golf The most recent report29 details amenity pesticide use in 2020 and so is already five years out of date The next report scheduled to be published in 2025 will cover amenity use in 2024 30
In addition to these reports lagging far behind, they are also woefully incomplete Responding to the survey which underpins the report is voluntary and response rates are extremely low The government’s most recent report covering 2020 states that 392 emails were sent to Local Authorities but just 21% (82 councils) responded with data on pesticide use To compare, we contacted 390 councils and received 368 responses that included pesticide data, a response rate of 94%
PAN UK has been concerned about the lack of data on urban pesticide use for many years and repeatedly calls for monitoring to be improved However, the results gleaned from our hundreds of FOI requests have highlighted the extent of the inadequacies in government reporting
Table 8: Results from FoI responses on the amount of herbicides used by UK councils.
The amount of pesticides used by local councils highlights the issue As shown in Table 8 below, the 368 councils which responded to our FoI requests reported using a total of 354 tonnes of herbicides in 2024 (only 29 declined to provide us with figures). In reality, 354 tonnes is likely to be an underestimation of the amount used While we sent almost 400 FoI requests to city, borough, district and county councils, there are many we did not contact, for example England’s thousands of parish councils many of which do use herbicides
Comparing these figures to the UK government’s data is alarming The most recent government report states that Local Authorities used a total of 84 tonnes of pesticides in 2020 (62 tonnes of pesticide products and 22 tonnes of active substance) 31 This is less than a quarter of the amount of pesticides reported by local councils to our FoI requests While some of this inconsistency could be due to issues with comparing 2020 usage figures with those from 2024, it is unlikely that this could account for such a huge difference in figures. The discrepancy is almost certainly due to the fact that almost 80% of local authorities did not provide any pesticide data to the government
This raises some important questions about our knowledge of the quantity of pesticides being used in our public spaces . In fact, we know relatively little about which chemicals are being applied, where and in what quantities, let alone detailed information about the impacts they are having on human health, wildlife or water quality Without accurate figures on usage, it is hard to see how the impacts of attempts to reduce urban pesticides can be effectively monitored or assessed
The UK government has said that it wants to help to support councils to reduce their pesticide use . However, it is currently legislating in the dark without the data to inform sensible policy making based on knowledge of what works and therefore what kind of support is required .
PAN UK would like to see legislation introduced that would make reporting on all pesticide use compulsory, with amenity use by local councils as the absolute priority It is already a legal requirement for professional pesticide users to keep records of use Therefore, requiring local councils and other land managers to report these figures to the government on an annual basis
in order to be made publicly available would be a small but important step forward Having an accurate picture of urban pesticide use would be a huge help to local residents, elected councillors, council officers and others working hard to better protect human health and the environment by making their local public spaces pesticide-free
Are UK councils using glyphosate-based herbicides?
According to the most recent government figures (from 2020)26, glyphosate-based herbicides make up 96% of pesticides applied by UK councils. It can, therefore, sometimes feel like the Pesticide-Free Towns movement is in fact campaigning to end the use of glyphosate in public spaces. However, there is no point in stopping using glyphosate to simply transition over to using other synthetic herbicides commonly used in the amenity sector (such as 2,4-D or MCPA) which are often equally, or sometimes even more, toxic. With this in mind, the questions in our FoI requests to councils intentionally focussed on all herbicide use and not just glyphosate.
We did, however, ask a simple ‘yes/no’ question on whether councils were using glyphosatebased herbicides and the results were extremely high as shown by the table below. However, it should be noted that these figures do include councils that only use glyphosate-based herbicides to control invasive species, such as Japanese Knotweed. Councils using glyphosate solely for invasive species tend to use far less than those continuing to use it for general weed control.
Table 9: Councils using glyphosate-based herbicides.
Overall number As a percentage of the UK councils that responded to our FoI requests
Number of UK councils using glyphosate-based herbicides
Number of English councils using glyphosate-based herbicides
339 (out of 368 responses) 92%
279 (out of 303 responses) 92%
Number of Northern Irish councils using glyphosate-based herbicides 11 (out of 11 responses) 100%
Number of Scottish councils using glyphosate-based herbicides
Number of Welsh councils using glyphosate-based herbicides
31 (out of 31 responses) 100%
18 (out of 23 responses) 78%
Glyphosate must have its license reapproved in Great Britain by December 2026. Given the growing body of evidence linking it to both human health27 and environmental harms,28 this would be an excellent opportunity to ban it from being used in public spaces. While entirely possible, ending glyphosate use in farming is a far more complicated endeavour. Reducing our overall exposure to this harmful chemical by removing it from villages, towns and cities is therefore an obvious first step.
KEY FINDINGS
Alternatives to urban pesticides
The fact that whilst there is any possible hazard from a pesticide, surely it is better to reduce its use and look at alternatives? The more people that use alternatives, the more alternatives will be developed, tested and improved . ” “
Head of Parks and Green Spaces, Lewes District Council, 2018
There is an ever-growing number of non-chemical alternatives to pesticides in the amenity sector
While some councils that have gone pesticide-free have done so relying on longstanding techniques such as hand weeding and mulching, others have adopted technological solutions such as hot foam machines and mechanical brushes As the demand for non-chemical weed control rises amongst both land managers and the public, the cost of these technologies is coming down while their efficacy is increasing
Here is a brief description of the main alternatives currently available in the UK:
6 Hot foam systems use high temperature water and foam to kill weeds The foam, which is made using sustainable vegetable oils, helps keep the water at a high temperature while it kills the weeds – literally boiling them. One of the many benefits of this system is the fact that it can be used in any weather condition in contrast to herbicides (such as glyphosate) which can only be used when it is not raining or windy As it is non-toxic and nonbio accumulative, it is suitable for use in sensitive areas such as nature reserves and in proximity to water bodies . In addition to being used to control weeds, hot foam systems can also be used to remove chewing gum and moss
6 High pressure hot water treatments are similar to foam systems but instead rely solely on hot, high-pressure water . They are effective for weed control and, as with foam systems, can also be used for other situations such as chewing gum and moss removal thus making them a versatile option
6 Electronic control systems are a relatively new approach that is particularly suited to dealing with invasive species It works by using electricity to boil weeds from the root upwards .
6 Flame treatment has been used successfully to eliminate weeds in many parks and green spaces. Whilst flame weeding can be an effective alternative to the use of pesticides, and much work has gone into making them more targeted and therefore safer, there are potentially health and safety issues for operatives However, for smaller areas handheld flame weeders might be a suitable tool if proper training is provided .
6 Brushing can be used for larger areas such as pavements and roads and, in combination with the use of pelargonic acid, can be a very effective alternative Such systems are particularly useful for removing light weeds and moss from hard surfaces such as paving and tarmac The use of brushes is also vital for keeping streets and pavements clear of detritus where weeds can prosper A proper regime of brushing prior to the growing season can help ensure that weed growth is kept to a minimum throughout the year
6 Acetic acid dilutions have been used very effectively to control weeds on hard surfaces in a variety of situations . Acetic acid is essentially just vinegar and, as such, is biodegradable and poses no risk of bioaccumulation 32 Some of the companies that make and sell pesticide products have started producing non-glyphosate alternatives to Roundup and
similar herbicides, using acetic or pelargonic acid as the active ingredient There is some debate about just how effective this can be for large areas of hard surface in urban areas, but it can be a useful tool for smaller areas such as playgrounds .
6 Mulching is an age-old technique for dealing with weeds by smothering them . Mulching also offers other benefits including retention of moisture in the soil and, depending on the type of mulch being used, improved soil health Organic material such as chips and bark from recycled Christmas trees can be used, or there is a wide range of mulch mats available This is a particularly useful approach in ornamental beds and in parks more generally .
6 Hand weeding is an option, particularly for smaller areas such as playgrounds and on paths running through parks Some councils may be able to use their employees and parks staff to do this on a regular basis to maintain acceptable weed-free levels However, given capacity constraints many councils have chosen to work with the local community around parks and other areas in order to recruit volunteers to help weed by hand . Friends of Parks groups are an obvious first port of call for finding willing helpers. Not only does this get the job done but it is an effective way of engaging local communities to become more involved in their parks and local area A sense of community spirit can be engendered and it has proved to be an excellent opportunity for the council to engage with local groups in a positive manner There are already a number of councils using this approach and other land managers such as Royal Parks in London are also asking for volunteers to come in and hand weed 33 An excellent example to look at is Lambeth Council’s Community Weeding Scheme which has not only brought benefits in terms of pesticide reduction but also social cohesion More information here: www.lambeth.gov.uk/streets-roads-transport/ community-weeding-scheme
It is important to note when planning to reduce or stop the use of herbicides that the most critical first point is to be aware that there is no silver bullet – there is no like for like replacement To make a successful transition away from herbicide use, the non-chemical alternatives deployed have to comprise of a mixture of techniques and approaches backed up by a sensible, achievable strategy and policy underpinned by the political will to see the plan through over the long-term
For more detail, see our report “Alternatives to Herbicides: A Guide for the Amenity Sector” which is available to download at: www.pan-uk.org/ information-for-local-authorities
Alternatives to Herbicides
RECOMMENDATIONS
Ways in which the UK government and devolved administrations should be supporting councils
Since 2015, over one hundred and fifty councils across the UK have either ended their use of pesticides or taken positive steps towards doing so, all without any support from central government or the devolved administrations . Given the funding crisis engulfing local authorities across the UK, it is remarkable that so many councils have managed to reduce or end their pesticide use without any support However, if the UK government and devolved administrations wants to fulfil their 2025 commitment to “ minimise the risks and impacts of pesticide use on the environment and human health…”34 then they should put in place the following:
6 Introduce legislation prohibiting local authorities – followed by other public authorities – from using pesticides in villages, towns and cities There is already a Bill going through the House of Commons, tabled by Sian Berry MP, which would ban pesticide use by English Councils
6 Provide overarching guidance to local authorities which includes recommendations on how to phase out their use of pesticides in an efficient and cost-effective way that does not compromise on public safety or accessibility
6 Assist councils to conduct a full analysis of current pesticide use, including how much public money is currently being spent on applying pesticides
6 Develop a training scheme for council officers on pesticide-free approaches which enables them to trial different chemical-free alternatives with expert supervision .
6 Provide councils with interest-free loans or grants to cover capital outlay costs for new machinery Once councils own the required equipment then it can be used for many years Going forward, reduced (or zero) spend on pesticides will deliver considerable cost savings .
6 Ringfence extra funding for councils’ city cleansing/environment/parks teams to oversee chemical-free weed removal and for any manual labour required This is especially true in the spring and summer months when weeds experience the most growth
6 Enable peer-to-peer learning between councils by establishing a network for council officers and operatives to share best practice.
6 Mandate that local authorities consult key local stakeholders – most importantly disability groups – and provide communications on pesticide reduction to all local residents
Crucially, the UK government and devolved administrations must also help to change the narrative about urban spaces, ‘weeds’ and pesticides It should be made clear that our villages, towns and cities can and should be an oasis for wildlife, given the current biodiversity crisis we are facing in the UK Our urban spaces can play a key role in reversing biodiversity declines, since many pavement plants offer food and shelter to animals and insects The government should assist councils in shifting away from the negative narrative of ‘weeds’ being a nuisance and towards a view of ‘pavement plants’ as an important aspect of urban biodiversity that can be managed without chemicals See PAN UK’s Pavement Plant Guide for an example of positive communication: www.pan-uk.org/pavement-plants
Actions councils can take
While we hope to secure central government support for councils wanting to go pesticide-free, it is not a prerequisite for taking action More than one hundred and fifty councils in the UK have made huge progress on reducing or ending their pesticide use without any help from Defra or the governments of the devolved nations
Regardless of whether external support is in place, councils should take the following actions:
6 Adopt PAN UK’s three-year phase-out plan which has been followed successfully by many of the councils that have gone pesticide-free
6 Develop a comprehensive pesticide policy aimed at reducing, and ultimately ending, pesticide use Many councils have used this policy to introduce limited but necessary exemptions, the most common being for tackling invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed
6 Conduct a detailed assessment of current pesticide use which includes amounts, locations and costings .
6 Undertake trials and pilot schemes for nonchemical alternatives to pesticides and monitor their progress closely
6 Promote existing good work being undertaken by council officers to reduce pesticide use, including publicising any areas that are already pesticide-free
6 Work with council officers to plant pesticide-free urban wildflower meadows to create a haven for bees and other wildlife
6 Promote the concept of going pesticide-free to other local land managers (e g universities, companies which manage transport infrastructure, housing estate managers etc )
6 Communicate with members of the public about the benefits of going pesticide free.
PAN UK has a range of free resources for councils which can be downloaded here: www.pan-uk.org/information-for-local-authorities
Actions the public can take
Members of the public have a key role to play in ending urban pesticide use . In countries such as France that have banned urban use nationwide, it started with local residents taking action before growing into a national grassroots movement and ultimately securing national legislation
PAN UK has a wealth of resources for members of the public wanting to make their council pesticide-free They can be downloaded at www.pan-uk.org/make-my-town-pesticide-free
Take our simple eaction which, in just a few clicks, enables you to tell your ward councillors that you want public spaces in your local area to be pesticide-free . Before you contact them, try searching our new, online database to see whether your council is included. You can find it at www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free
If you want to take your campaign offline, then we also have a range of advice on how to run in person Pesticide-Free Towns campaigns, from running stalls at local events to establishing community weeding groups
In whatever way you choose to get involved, please do make sure to share what you’re doing with friends, family and neighbours to help build the ever-growing Pesticide-Free Towns movement
ANNEX 1
List of 390 councils sent Freedom of Information requests by PAN UK between January and May 2025 (non-responders in orange)
Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeenshire Council
Adur District Council
Amber Valley Borough Council
Angus Council
Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council
Ards & North Down Borough Council
Argyll & Bute Council
Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon
Borough Council
Arun District Council
Ashfield District Council
Ashford Borough Council
Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils
Bangor City Council
Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
Basildon Borough Council
Basingstoke & Deane Borough Council
Bassetlaw District Council
Bath & North East Somerset Council
Bedford Borough Council
Belfast Council
Birmingham City Council
Blaby District Council
Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
Blackpool Council
Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council
Bolsover District Council
Bolton Borough Council
Borough Council of King's Lynn & West
Norfolk
Boston Borough Council
Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole Council
Bracknell Forest Council
Braintree District Council
Breckland Council
Brentwood Borough Council
Bridgend County Borough Council
Brighton & Hove City Council
Bristol City Council
Broadland District Council
Bromsgrove District Council
Broxbourne Borough Council
Broxtowe Borough Council
Buckinghamshire Council
Burnley Borough Council
Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
Caerphilly County Borough Council
Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Cambridge City Council
Cambridgeshire County Council
Cannock Chase District Council
Canterbury City Council
Carmarthenshire County Council
Castle Point Borough Council
Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council
Central Bedfordshire Council
Ceredigion County Council
Charnwood Borough Council
Chelmsford City Council
Cheltenham Borough Council
Cherwell District Council
Cheshire East Council
Cheshire West and Chester Council
Chesterfield Borough Council
Chichester District Council
Chorley Borough Council
City & County of Swansea
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
City of Cardiff
City of Carlisle
City of Coventry
City of Derby
City of Doncaster Council
City of Ely Council
City of Gloucester
City of Leeds
City of Lincoln Council
City of London Corporation
City of Peterborough
City of Sheffield
City of Southampton
City of Westminister
City of Wolverhampton Council
City of York Council
Clackmannanshire Council
Colchester City Council
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Conwy County Borough Council
Cornwall Council
Cotswold District Council
Council of the Isles of Scilly
County Durham
Crawley Borough Council
Cumberland Council
Cyngor Gwynedd
Cyngor Sir Ynys Mon
Dacorum Borough Council
Darlington Borough Council
Dartford Borough Council
Denbighshire County Council
Derbyshire County Council
Derbyshire Dales District Council
Derry City and Strabane District Council
Devon County Council
Dorset Council
Dover District Council
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
Dumfries & Galloway Council
Dundee City Council
East Ayrshire Council
East Cambridgeshire District Council
East Devon District Council
East Dunbartonshire Council
East Hampshire District Council
East Herts Council
East Lindsey District Council
East Lothian Council
East Renfrewshire Council
East Riding of Yorkshire Council
East Staffordshire Borough Council
East Suffolk District Council
East Sussex County Council
Eastbourne Borough Council
Eastleigh Borough Council
Elmbridge Borough Council
Enfield Council
Epping Forest District Council
Epsom & Ewell Borough Council
Erewash Borough Council
Essex County Council
Exeter City Council
Falkirk Council
Fareham Borough Council
Fenland District Council
Fermanagh & Omagh District Council
Fife Council
Flintshire County Council
Folkestone & Hythe District Council
Forest of Dean District Council
Fylde Borough Council
Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
Gedling Borough Council
Glasgow City Council
Gloucestershire County Council
Gosport Borough Council
Gravesham Borough Council
Great Yarmouth Borough Council
Guildford Borough Council
Halton Borough Council
Hampshire County Council
Harborough District Council
Harlow District Council
Hart District Council
Hartlepool Borough Council
Hastings Borough Council
Havant Borough Council
Herefordshire Council
Hertfordshire County Council
Hertsmere Borough Council
High Peak Borough Council
Highland Council
Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council
Horsham District Council
Huntingdonshire District Council
Hyndburn Borough Council
Inverclyde Council
Ipswich Borough Council
Isle of Wight Council
Kent County Council
Kingston upon Hull City Council
Kirklees Council
Knowsley Borough Council
Lancashire County Council
Lancaster City Council
Leicester City Council
Leicestershire County Council
Lewes District Council
Lichfield District Council
Lincolnshire County Council
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
Liverpool City Council
London Borough of Barking & Dagenham
London Borough of Barnet
London Borough of Bexley
London borough of Brent
London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Camden
London borough of Croydon
London Borough of Ealing
London Borough of Hackney
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
London borough of Haringey Council
London Borough of Harrow
London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Hillingdon
London Borough of Hounslow
London Borough of Islington
London Borough of Lambeth
London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Newham
London Borough of Redbridge
London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Luton Borough Council
Maidstone Borough Council
Maldon District Council
Malvern Hills District Council
Manchester City Council
Mansfield District Council
Medway Council
Melton Borough Council
Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council
Merton London Borough Council
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council
Mid Devon District Council
Mid Sussex District Council
Mid Ulster District Council
Middlesbrough Council
Midlothian Council
Milton Keynes Council
Mole Valley District Council
Monmouthshire County Council
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
New Forest District Council
Newark & Sherwood District Council
Newcastle upon Tyne Council
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council
Newport City Council
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council
Norfolk County Council
North Ayrshire Council
North Devon District Council
North East Derbyshire District Council
North East Lincolnshire Council
North Hertfordshire District Council
North Kesteven District Council
North Lanarkshire Council
North Lincolnshire Council
North Norfolk District Council
North Northamptonshire Council
North Somerset Council
North Tyneside Council
North Warwickshire Borough Council
North West Leicestershire District Council
North Yorkshire Council
Northumberland County Council
Norwich City Council
Nottingham City Council
Nottinghamshire County Council
Oadby & Wigston Borough Council
Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
Orkney Islands Council
Oxford City Council
Oxfordshire County Council
Pembrokeshire County Council
Pendle Borough Council
Perth & Kinross Council
Plymouth City Council
Portsmouth City Council
Powys County Council
Preston City Council
Reading Borough Council
Redcar & Cleveland Council
Redditch Borough Council
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
Renfrewshire Council
Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council
Ribble Valley Borough Council
Richmond upon Thames London Borough Council
Ripon City Council
Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
Rochford District Council
Rossendale Borough Council
Rother District Council
Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Royal Borough of Greenwich
Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead
Rugby Borough Council
Runnymede Borough Council
Rushcliffe Borough Council
Rushmoor Borough Council
Rutland County Council
Salford City Council
Salisbury City Council
Sandwell Borough Council
Scottish Borders Council
Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council
Sevenoaks District Council
Shetland Islands Council
Shropshire Council
Slough Borough Council
Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
Somerset Council
South Ayrshire Council
South Cambridgeshire District Council
South Derbyshire District Council
South Gloucestershire Council
South Hams District Council
South Holland District Council
South Kesteven District Council
South Lanarkshire Council
South Norfolk District Council
South Oxfordshire District Council
South Ribble Borough Council
South Staffordshire Council
South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council
Southend-on-Sea City Council
Southwark Council
Spelthorne Borough Council
St Albans City & District Council
St Asaph City Council
St David City Council
St Helens Council
Stafford Borough Council
Staffordshire County Council
Staffordshire Moorlands District Council
Stevenage Borough Council
Stirling Council
Stockport Borough Council
Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
Stoke-on-Trent City Council
Stratford-on-Avon District Council
Stroud District Council
Suffolk County Council
Sunderland City Council
Surrey County Council
Surrey Heath Borough Council
Swale Borough Council
Swindon Borough Council
Tameside Borough Council
Tamworth Borough Council
Tandridge District Council
Teignbridge District Council
Telford & Wrekin Council
Tendring District Council
Test Valley Borough Council
Tewkesbury Borough Council
Thanet District Council
The City of Edinburgh Council
The Moray Council
Three Rivers District Council
Thurrock Council
Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council
Torbay Council
Torfaen County Borough Council
Torridge District Council
Trafford Council
Truro City Council
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
Uttlesford District Council
Vale of Glamorgan County Borough Council
Vale of White Horse District Council
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
Walsall Council
Waltham Forest
Wandsworth Borough Council
Warrington Borough Council
Warwick District Council
Warwickshire County Council
Watford Borough Council
Waverley Borough Council
Wealden District Council
Wells City Council
Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
West Berkshire Council
West Devon Borough Council
West Dunbartonshire Council
West Lancashire Borough Council
West Lindsey District Council
West Lothian Council
West Northamptonshire Council
West Oxfordshire District Council
West Suffolk District Council
West Sussex County Council
Westminster City Council
Westmorland and Furness Council
Wigan Council
Wiltshire Council
Winchester City Council
Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
Woking Borough Council
Wokingham Borough Council
Worcester City Council
Worcestershire County Council
Worthing Borough Council
Wrexham County Borough Council
Wychavon District Council
Wyre Council
Wyre Forest District Council
ANNEX 2
List of councils “leading the way” (based on information provided by councils to PAN UK in response to Freedom of Information requests sent between January and May 2025)
Country Council County
England Adur District Council West Sussex
England Bath & North East Somerset Council Somerset
England Breckland Council Norfolk
England Broadland District Council Norfolk
England Cambridge City Council Cambridgeshire
England Chelmsford City Council Essex
England Chichester District Council West Sussex
England City of London Corporation London
England Dartford Borough Council Kent
England Derbyshire County Council Derbyshire
England East Devon District Council Devon
England East Hampshire District Council Hampshire
England Folkestone & Hythe District Council Kent
England Gedling Borough Council Nottinghamshire
England High Peak Borough Council Derbyshire
England Lancaster City Council Lancashire
England Lewes District Council East Sussex
England London borough of Croydon London
England London Borough of Hackney London
England London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham London
England London Borough of Hounslow London
England London Borough of Lambeth London
England London Borough of Westminster London
England Maidstone Borough Council Kent
England Mid Devon District Council Devon
England Oxfordshire County Council Oxfordshire
England Rochford District Council Essex
Country Council County
England Rossendale Borough Council Lancashire
England Runnymede Borough Council Surrey
England Salisbury City Council Wiltshire
England Sevenoaks District Council Kent
England South Cambridgeshire District Council Cambridgeshire
England South Hams District Council Devon
England South Norfolk District Council Norfolk
England Stratford-on-Avon District Council Warwickshire
England Stroud District Council Gloucestershire
England Surrey Heath Borough Council Surrey
England Thanet District Council Kent
England Three Rivers District Council Hertfordshire
England Torridge District Council Devon
England Tunbridge Wells Borough Council Kent
England Wealden District Council East Sussex
England Wells City Council Somerset
England West Devon Borough Council Devon
England West Suffolk District Council Suffolk
England Worthing Borough Council West Sussex
Northern Ireland Derry City and Strabane District Council Londonderry
Scotland The City of Edinburgh Council Lothian
Wales Bangor City Council Gwynedd
Wales Flintshire County Council Flintshire
Wales Monmouthshire County Council Monmouthshire
Wales St Asaph City Council Denbighshire
Wales St David City Council Pembrokeshire
References
1 “State of Nature Report, 2023”, State of Nature Partnership, 2023https://stateofnature org uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/TP25999-State-of-Nature-main-report_2023_FULL-DOC-v12 pdf
2 “Plant Protection Products (Prohibition on Public Sector Use) Bill”, 28/04/2025 - https://bills parliament uk/bills/3822
3 Letter from Emma Hardy MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, to PAN UK, 09/06/2025
4 “Amenity Pesticide Usage in the UK”, D Garthwaite, G Parrish & L Ridley, 28/04/2022 - https://pusstats fera co uk/api/report-download/689
5 “Some Organophosphate Insecticides and Herbicides Volume 112”, International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2017 - https://publications iarc who int/_publications/media/download/6767/d44170dc102a273c5fb0bc06c542879dbb654c15 pdf
6 Monsanto Roundup Verdicts and Settlements, Wisner Baum, undatedhttps://www wisnerbaum com/toxic-tort-law/monsanto-roundup-lawsuit/roundup-settlement/
7 “Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/2660 of 28 November 2023 renewing the approval of the active substance glyphosate” - https://eur-lex europa eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/2660/oj
8 “Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 12”, 21/10/2009 - https://eur-lex europa eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ do?uri=OJ:L:2009:309:0071:0086:en:PDF
9 Uk-EU Common Understanding, 19/05/2025 - https://www gov uk/government/publications/ukeu-summit-key-documentation/ uk-eu-summit-common-understanding-html (clauses 26-28)
10 “France declares public spaces pesticide free - private gardens will follow”, Terri Anne Fell, 08/06/2017 - https://www gardenorganic org uk/news/france-declares-public-spaces-pesticide-free-private-gardens-will-follow
11 “Wingspread Conference on the Precautionary Principle”, Science and Environmental Health Network, 26/01/1998 - https://www sehn org/sehn/wingspread-conference-on-the-precautionary-principle
12 “Transforming Britain’s Road Verges”, Plantlife - https://www plantlife org uk/our-work/road-verges/
13 “Diffuse Pollution of Water by Agriculture”, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, Post Note 478, October 2014 - https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/POST-PN-478/POST-PN-478.pdf
14 “Feedback from the Environment Agency and Southern Water on the use of Glyphosate”, Brighton & Hove Council, October 2022https://democracy brighton-hove gov uk/documents/s196394/Weed%20Management%20APX %20n%207 pdf
15 “Pesticide-Free – Framework for a Three Year Phase-Out Plan”, PAN UK - https://www pan-uk org/site/wp-content/uploads/Phase-out-plan pdf
16 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
17 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
18 “H&F is first in London to halt use of potentially harmful sprays”, Hammersmith & Fulham Council, 08/06/2016 - https://www.lbhf.gov.uk/news/2016/06/hf-first-london-halt-use-potentially-harmful-sprays
19 “Community Weeding Scheme”, Lambeth Council - https://www lambeth gov uk/streets-roads-transport/community-weeding-scheme
20 “London Environment Strategy”, Page 424, The Mayor of London, May 2018 - https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/london_environment_strategy_0.pdf
21 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
22 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
23 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
24 “Harmful Pesticides” Questions to the First Minister in the Senedd, 28/02/2023 - https://www theyworkforyou com/senedd/?id=2023-02-28 1 486710
25 Polling conducted by YouGov Plc on behalf of PAN UK. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,162 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th - 26th June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+)
26 Amenity Pesticide Usage in the UK, D Garthwaite, G Parrish & L Ridley, 28/04/2022https://pusstats fera co uk/api/report-download/689
27 “Carcinogenic effects of long-term exposure from prenatal life to glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides in Sprague–Dawley rats”, Panzacchi, S , Tibaldi, E , De Angelis, L et al Environ Health 24, 36 10/06/2025 - https://doi org/10 1186/s12940-025-01187-2
28 “Glyphosate concentrations in global freshwaters: are aquatic organisms at risk?”, Brovini, E M , Cardoso, S J , Quadra, G R et al Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 60635–60648, 2021 - https://link springer com/article/10 1007/s11356-021-14609-8#citeas
29 Amenity Pesticide Usage in the UK, D Garthwaite, G Parrish & L Ridley, 28/04/2022 - https://pusstats fera co uk/api/report-download/689
30 “Amenity Survey 2024 – Pesticide Usage”, The Amenity Forum, 2024 - https://amenityforum co uk/insights/amenity-survey-2024-pesticide-usage-2/
31 Amenity Pesticide Usage in the UK, Page 16, D Garthwaite, G Parrish & L Ridley, 28/04/2022 - https://pusstats fera co uk/api/report-download/689
32 Vinegar; an Alternative to Glyphosate? – University of Maryland – 2017 - https://extension.umd.edu/sites/default/files/_docs/programs/ipmnet/Vinegar-AnAlternativeToGlyphosate-UMD-Smith-Fiola-and-Gill.pdf
33 Volunteer in the Community Garden, Regent’s Park - https://www royalparks org uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/volunteeringopportunities/volunteer-and-volunteer-co-ordinator-in-the-community-wildlife-garden,-regents-park
34 “UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025”, Defra, 21/03/2025 - https://www gov uk/government/publications/uk-pesticides-national-action-plan-2025
Who are Pesticide Action Network UK?
PAN UK is the only UK charity focused on tackling the problems caused by pesticides and promoting safe and sustainable alternatives
We campaign for change in policy and practice in the UK and overseas, contributing our wealth of scientific and technical expertise to reducing the impact of harmful pesticides and pushing for a pesticide-free future .
Find out more about our work at: www.pan-uk.org/pesticide-free
Contact PAN UK
The Green Hub
The Brighthelm Centre North Road
Brighton BN1 1YD
Telephone: 01273 964230
Email: pesticide-free@pan-uk org
