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Alternatives to pesticides workshop
The Alternatives to Pesticides Day was held at Barham Park in Brent in October. Forty-five people attended the workshop representing local authorities, the retail sector, suppliers of alternative controls, the Greater London Authority and the Crop Protection Association.
Workshop presentations covered the work of PAN UK, the Green
Flag Park Awards, microbial turf treatments, the latest aquacide machine,
non-chemical weed control on hard surfaces, Brent’s organic status at Fryent
Country Park, the London Borough of Southwark’s pesticide reduction policy,
new NPTC testing, the Greater London Authority’s environment strategy and the
impact of pesticides on water quality.
Non-chemical control
Two microbial turf treatments were looked at: one
developed in the US and the other developed in the UK using native mycorrhiza.
Microbial inoculation is recommended for treating soils where mycorrhiza are
absent, for example, sand based golf courses, sterilised/fumigated soils and
artificial growing media.
In response to pesticide taxes in Canada Smithco has
developed the latest steam machine for killing weeds on hard surfaces. Water
heated to 280oC applied at low-pressure kills vegetation on contact. Two sizes
of machine can be mounted on a broad range of trucks and trailers. The machine
does not require the user to have a Certificate of Competence for the UK and is
safe to use near people, pets and to the environment. It can be used in all
weathers and does not present the danger of water contamination. The versatile
machinery can be used on hard surfaces and around existing planting in a wide
range of locations; golf courses, parks, driveways and roadside verges. Machines
are diesel powered and a 400 litre water tank on maximum power works for 1hour
and 10 minutes.
A research project funded by the Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions to look into non-chemical weed control on
hard surfaces was completed in June 2000. The project examined the cost
effectiveness of minimum input organic and integrated systems. The environmental
and health benefits of pesticide minimisation must be addressed in terms of
alternative methods, which may be more labour intensive. Councils now have
greater flexibility to choose an expensive technique over the cheapest
treatments under ‘Best Value’ policies.
Fryent Country Park
The organic status achieved by Brent parks management marks an important
achievement. Leslie Williams said that conversion was completed after two years
and the park’s activities include hay production and orchard and woodland
plots. Creeping thistle, the main problem weed, has been successfully controlled
by an additional cut after hay removal. A reduction of 90% of the weed
infestation has been achieved by cutting three times a year; the first cut in
the spring, a second in June or July followed by a third in late summer/early
August. Pesticides used in wood treatments have also been reduced by using
recycled plastic park furniture, fencing, rights of way markers and untreated
tree stakes. Heat treatment has been successful for weed control on hard
surfaces on a small scale. No insecticides are used on roses as only stock
resistant to disease is purchased.
Southwark
The London Borough of Southwark developed their Pesticide Reduction Policy with
PAN UK in 1996. The Policy prohibits the use of pesticides that can harm the
environment, especially water, and seeks to remove the risk of exposure to such
pesticides to those who live and work in Southwark. The success of the policy
implementation has been recognised by the Green Apple Award received by
Southwark this year and by the pesticide reduction illustrated by monitoring
records.
Residues in water
Privatisation of UK water companies coincided with the implementation of the
Water Supply Regulations 1989. PCVs (prescribed concentrations or values) are
stated for each parameter for the protection of public health and aesthetic
value. The standards are 0.1 microgram/litre of an individual
substance/pesticide or 0.5 micrograms/litre as a total value. The length of time
a pollutant remains in a receptor (river/borehole) depends upon a number of
factors. Rivers may be affected by short-term duration and variable
concentration but are potentially predictable in terms of rainfall or spillage
incidents. Groundwater presents a longer term problem, concentrations are more
stable and the reduction or removal of pollutants relies on replenishment of
water in the aquifer.
Feedback
Discussion groups in the afternoon session addressed pesticide reduction issues
relating to the general public, staff and contractors, council structure and
finance. Although reduction can be hampered by these factors the group felt that
the process could be promoted through effective training and education targeted
at the general public, staff and contractors and elected council members.
Feedback from the group highlighted the benefit of talking to
colleagues from other councils and organisations and noted the good quality
presentations and handouts. It was suggested that practical demonstrations of
products would be useful and further information about the external costs of
pesticide use would be helpful. Participants requested that the meeting in
London be scheduled at the same time next year and that local workshops take
place to reduce the need to travel. Some participants would also be willing to
attend a workshop over a longer period to allow for more in depth discussion and
analysis of the issues raised. (AW)
The next workshop will be held in the Leicester and Coventry area in March 2001 and will focus on public health issues. Those interested in participating in this and future workshops should contact Alex Williams at PAN-UK by telephone on 020 7274 8895 or by e-mail at alexwilliams@pan-uk.org for further information.
New project name for PAN UK
The Local Authorities Project has worked with many local authorities since 1992
and is now being developed to incorporate other organisations that use
non-agricultural pesticides. To reflect the broadening scope of the project we
are changing the name to Local Action on Pesticides.