Pesticides are chemicals designed to kill unwanted pests including weeds, bacteria, fungus, insects, slugs and snails. But sadly they have a wider impact on the environment and on human health.
Glyphosate (original trade name Round Up) is the world’s most commonly used herbicide (weedkiller). Pesticide Action Network explains that, ‘At low concentrations it damages liver, kidney and skin cells, and long term effects include cancer, infertility, pregnancy problems, birth defects and respiratory diseases.’ As well as the human impact, these chemicals also pose a significant risk to bee health.
What can be done?
People up and down the country are calling for an end to the use of hazardous chemicals in their towns and cities and many have committed to pesticide bans and moved to pesticide free methods of weed control.
Follow this link to find out more about Pesticide free towns
In our gardens, there are many ways to garden successfully using pesticide alternatives- see the information on the Sustainable Amersham website for more details.
If you would like to get involved in helping Amersham become pesticide free please contact us.