Extinction Rebellion protesters demand ban of weedkiller in St Albans

More than 30 Extinction Rebellion protesters rallied outside St Albans Council on Saturday (August 8).

The protesters said they were calling for the council to stop its contractors from using Glyphosate in public spaces around St Albans.

According to the group the weedkiller harms insects including bees and as a result impacts the environment.

Extinction Rebellion protesters on Saturday. Credit: Nigel Harvey

Clare Harvey who lives in St Albans said: "Bees are the most important pollinators of many of the crops on which human life depends on.

"Without bees human existence is threatened. Put simply, if we want to live, bees must be allowed to thrived."

Many protestors wore bee costumes and held up signs to draw attention.

Greenpeace St Albans member Juliet Voisey, who is also a beekeeper, said there has been a "huge destruction" in the bee population.

She added: "They are now much more prone to diseases. Glyphosate destroys the habitat on which they depend."

Protesters dressed up as bees. Credit: Nigel Harvey

A petition has been launched on the council's website , once it reaches 500 signatures the issue will be discussed in the next full council meeting.

A spokesperson for the council said Glyphosate is used to spot treat weeds in parks, green spaces, housing sites and cemeteries and on adopted highways for Hertfordshire County Council.

They added: "To completely move away from the use of chemical weed treatments and maintain the same level of weed clearance would increase costs by over £100,000 per year.

"The council is exploring options to move away from Glyphosate including considering a reduced programme of weeding. This will prove challenging in areas of hard surface as weeds could damage the existing infrastructure such as roads."