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Jun 2022

Last Updated: 08/06/2022

Environment

Council criticised for leaving 'scorched earth' rings around Stray trees

by Thomas Barrett

| 09 Jun, 2022

The latest debate involves the council's approach to managing weeds on the 200-acre parkland but it has troubled environmentalists and led to criticism on social media.

Harrogate Borough Council has been criticised for spraying weed-killing chemicals around trees on the Stray leaving 'scorched earth' rings around them.

From UCI cycling to litter and rewilding, no topic exercises Harrogatonians quite like the Stray.

The latest debate involves the council's approach to managing weeds on the 200-acre parkland which has troubled environmentalists and led to criticism on social media.

The council recently sprayed glyphosate around the base of almost every tree, bin and bench. It's the most widely used pesticide in history but its use is controversial.

Exposure to glyphosate has been linked to poor health and several UK councils have pledged to stop or limit its use due to its negative impact on the environment.

Shan Oakes, Harrogate & District Green Party co-ordinator, criticised HBC for using the pesticide and said "we have to stop poisoning the planet".

"It looks horrible. It doesn't look good, so why do you need to tidy up vegetation around trees? Greenery looks better than scorched earth.

"We need plants wherever we can put them, nature doesn't know about so-called weeds.

"We need to stop removing every little weed and so on, we have to think about bees and all the rest of the wildlife. We depend on nature."

Rewilding row

This year, the council’s parks team has again left grass verges close to the roadside on West Park Stray uncut until late autumn to improve biodiversity.

But at least one tree has been sprayed with glyphosate in the middle of a grass verge that has been left to 'rewild'.

Ms Oakes said the example was "an absolute contradiction". She added:

"It's like the plastic grass fiasco, they have not got their head around a different approach to gardening. Rewilding means a different kind of management."

Judy d'Arcy Thompson, chair of the Stray Defence Association, took a more pragmatic approach to weed-killing on the Stray.

She said the council "presumably have their reasons" for spraying the chemicals but added weeds can give the Stray an unsightly appearance.

On rewilding, she said the verges have been used as a dumping ground for litter and dog waste.

"All those that love the wilding, there are those that hate it.

"Its a very difficult situation. It can look good and we must help the bee population. I'm down the middle on it. It's an emotive subject, people get wound up about it."

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Council's response

A Harrogate Borough Council spokesperson explained why it has been using the weed-killer on the Stray.

“Twice a year, weeds around path edges and the bases of trees, bins and other street furniture are sprayed with glyphosate.

“When applied – through a lance which produces droplets directly onto the weeds – it is instantly absorbed and kills the weed quickly. Any brown grass should grow back in the following months.

“This is kept to a minimum and only used because our lawnmowers are unable to cut close enough. It also means we’re not constantly strimming, using hoes or pulling out weeds by hand, allowing us to spend more time maintaining our parks and opens spaces across the Harrogate district.

“Understandably, weeds are favoured by some and are an eyesore to others. So we have to strike a balance to ensure all residents can enjoy the district.

“And we are constantly reviewing, trialling and amending our work practices to ensure we are working towards a sustainable environment.

“We actively encourage many areas to grow naturally and leave several areas from being cut as regularly; the Stray in Harrogate, Jacob Smith Park in Knaresborough and Quarry Moor Nature Reserve in Ripon, to name but a few. Again, some residents favour this approach and some don’t.

“We have also planted thousands of wildflowers, with the help of volunteers. As well as leaving log piles as habitats and vegetation, and adapting our formal bedding areas across the district to include more single, open flowers that are great for pollinators.

“This is a key objective for us and we have a number of schemes to enable the flora and fauna to thrive. We also continue to work in partnership with local community groups to collectively enhance the district’s wildlife and biodiversity.”

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Council criticised for leaving 'scorched earth' rings around Stray trees

Rewilding row

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Council's response