A COVENTRY based charity is urging the government to ban the use of pesticide in urban areas to stop harming wildlife, water courses and human health.
The pesticide collaboration are demanding a halt to the use of toxic chemicals in publicly run areas, such as playgrounds, streets and parks.
Fiona Taylor, chief executive of Garden Organic said: “Pesticides kill, it’s as simple as that, and they have no place as part of a healthy ecosystem whether that’s in a garden, park or street.”
“Councils are being allowed to spray toxic chemicals in areas where children and pets play, people enjoy sports, and birds, bees and butterflies feed and make habitats.
“This can’t be right.
“There are many examples, in cities across Europe, where successful pesticide bans have already been implemented.
“We urge gardeners to get behind this ban and stop the UK from lagging behind.”
Research shows pesticides run off hard surfaces such as pavements and paths, contaminating water courses and harming aquatic wildlife, as well as killing non-target species such as birds and bees.
Exposure to pesticides is linked to diseases such as Parkinson’s, asthma, depression and anxiety, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and cancer, including leukaemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Visit: pesticidecollaboration.org/go-pesticide-free to sign the petition.
