It's time to love our weeds!

We organised a walk starting from Jubilee Square today to encourage people to appreciate the wild plants growing in the city.

The walk was led by local botanists, Mike Pepper and Ann Branson. Approximately 20 people attended and we learnt to recognise wild plants like ragwort, cranesbill, white deadnettle, bird’s-foot trefoil, knapweed and cow parsley. We wrote the names of the plants in chalk on the path, so that people following the same route later would be able to learn the names of the plants too.

A survey has found that the number of flying insects has dropped 60% since 2004 in the UK. Life on Earth depends on insects and insects need wild plants for food and shelter. However, in Leicester, pavements, parks and green spaces are routinely sprayed with glyphosate weedkiller, killing all wild plants. Leicester Friends of the Earth have a petition asking the City Council to stop using weedkiller in parks and green spaces. They are planning to present it in a few weeks.

Given the vital role that insects play in our ecosystems, and the importance of nature in helping to tackle the climate emergency, it is essential that the Council stops spraying substances that are so harmful. A single application of a pesticide can remain in the soil for three years. They affect the whole plant, including its pollen and nectar, which means they are taken up by pollinators such as bees.

Research has also linked exposure to pesticides to many health issues, including cancers, Alzheimer’s, asthma, diabetes and infertility. In 2020 the manufacturer of glyphosate paid out over $10 billion to settle lawsuits with people who developed cancer as a result of using their product. Children are particularly vulnerable to pesticide poisoning because their skin is more permeable and they spend more time playing close to the ground.

There are so many reasons to stop using these chemicals. We need more space for wildlife in our city. More plants mean more insects, more birds, more life!