Let's Talk Weeds

In March 2021, a council motion at Full Council agreed that Sunderland City Council would produce an action plan on the elimination of the use of herbicides by the council, supporting partners to follow suit, and develop a wider strategy to support biodiversity across the city. 

Since March 2021, we have: 

• Stopped the use of chemical herbicides in in the soft landscape areas of cemeteries
• Stopped the use of chemical herbicides in Green Flag Parks
• Reduced the use of chemical herbicides on soft surface areas (open spaces, formal parks, play areas, shrub beds, signs, fence and tree lines)
• Created wildflowering areas

During 2022 we carried out further trials to help us understand the impact of alternative weed control options in different environments. Weather conditions last year meant that the pilots did not give us clear results to shape recommendations going forward.

As a result, we carried out further targeted trials starting in April 2023 and continuing until beginning of October 2023. This provided us with clear evidence to review and consider options, cost and resource implications for each method tested.

To carry out this targeted trial we tested different methods of weed control in different streets in an area, to allow us to understand the impacts. These locations were chosen to give a spread across the city in different conditions.

In June 2024, Cabinet reviewed the results of the pilot activities. The weed management pilot and subsequent trial and research concluded that Glyphosate is the most effective solution currently available for controlling weeds. All alternative methods have been found to be less effective, more expensive, have a greater detrimental environmental and ecological impact, and result in reduced resident satisfaction. Cabinet therefore made the decision that:

1. the council's commitment to biodiversity in support of effective and sustainable weed management be noted;
2. the council's continued investigation and testing of new weed management methods that enter the market be approved; and

3. the council's continued responsible use of Glyphosate for weed management in relation to the parks and highway infrastructure and where required for the management of invasive weeds species with a commitment to further reducing the overall amount of the product used.

We asked for resident views throughout the year. Thank you to everyone who shared their feedback. We continue to wish to hear your views around weed control:

Let's Talk Weeds feedback form

Low Carbon

Partners across the city have developed and signed up to the Sunderland Low Carbon Framework that will drive down emissions and seek to make the city carbon neutral by 2040. For more information on how you can get involved and play your part visit Low Carbon.