Wychavon’s parks and open spaces are now even greener thanks to the introduction of two new measures to cut carbon emissions and boost biodiversity.
Hydrotreated vegetable oil is being used in all maintenance vehicles used to care for the district’s award-winning parks. The fuel can cut carbon emissions by 90% compared to diesel and is already used in some of Wychavon’s waste collection and street cleaning vehicles.
Wychavon has also agreed with its contractor Continental Landscapes to trial stopping the use of herbicides and pesticides, including weedkillers, in all parks and green open spaces.
Research has shown some weedkillers can harm biodiversity by contaminating surrounding soil and potentially harming beneficial insects. Staff will instead trial controlling weeds by hand.
The measures are part of Wychavon’s Intelligently Green Plan, which sets ambitious targets to cut the council’s carbon emissions by 75% by 2030 and boost biodiversity by protecting, improving, and creating habitats.
Herbicides and pesticides are still being used to control weeds on hard surfaces in urban areas, like town centres and residential roads. Spraying in these areas has been delayed by the wet start to spring and summer, but the first treatment took place recently, and residents should see an improvement in the number of visible urban weeds over the next few weeks.
Tim Lewis, Head of Client Services for Wychavon District Council, said: “We’re proud of our award-winning parks and open spaces, but maintaining them shouldn’t come at the cost of our environment. These new measures will support the actions we have already taken in our parks, including planting wildflower areas to help our pollinators.
“I’m grateful to Continental Landscapes staff who will be working hard to maintain our parks and green open spaces to their usual high standards. If you do see a few more weeds around for a short period, don’t worry. Staff will get to them, and in the meantime, they are providing a great source of habitat and food for our wildlife.”
