Letter: If GBC Wishes To Be Nature-friendly, Stop Spraying Weedkiller

Published on: 24 May, 2025
Updated on: 24 May, 2025

A bee feasting on hawthorn blossom.

From Gina Redpath

former R4GV candidate

In response to: Guildford Plays Its Part in Campaign to Protect Bees

It’s ironic to see Cllr Potter supporting Guildford Borough Council’s promotion of “bee-friendly” gardening, while GBC continues to spray herbicides along pavements, outside our homes, and even on our walls — killing off cherished plants in the process.

The very wildflowers we’re encouraged to grow are being destroyed by the council itself, then left behind as brown, rotting reminders of a policy that flies in the face of its own environmental messaging.

GBC rightly acknowledges that pesticides harm pollinators. So why are they still using them? The waft of glyphosate drifting into our homes is alarming — and the decaying weeds that are never cleared up are a depressing daily sight.

Does anyone know why this harmful and outdated practice continues?

If Guildford is truly serious about biodiversity and tackling the climate emergency, it’s time to stop spraying and adopt genuinely nature-positive practices — as many other UK councils have already done.

Would you rather see daisies along the pavement, or brown, rotting weeds?

Until GBC aligns its actions with its words, these “bee-friendly” tips feel more like PR than real policy.

Responses to Letter: If GBC Wishes To Be Nature-friendly, Stop Spraying Weedkiller

Jim Allen Reply

May 24, 2025 at 7:19 pm

The last time weed killer was used in Bowers Lane, Burpham it was Surrey CC using it and, in fact, when the sewer contractors wanted to weedkill the field they were working in they were told, “Not on you life!”.

So it’s not GBC Parks using weed killer (unless there has been a change of policy) but Surrey Roads, GBC has no control over the roads.

I would also point out that Brighton stopped killing weeds in the streets and it ended up with impassible foot paths. It’s taken 15 years since first asking to return foot and cycle paths to design width in Burpham – work completed earlier this year.