Birmingham Friends of the Earth – press release
Contact: Libby Harris, Birmingham Friends of the Earth, 01216326909, libby@birminghamfoe.org.uk
Photo opportunity: Wednesday 25 October 2023, 3:15pm, Council House
Birmingham Friends of the Earth tell Birmingham City Council to Save Our Soil
Campaigners from Birmingham Friends of the Earth will present their petition to Birmingham City Council’s Environment Cabinet Member – Councillor Mahmood – on Wednesday 25 October, 3:15pm with a bee themed photo stunt inside the Council House.
The Save Our Soil campaign is calling on Birmingham City Council to:
Produce and implement a no-pesticide strategy by 2025, which includes:
- A complete ban on the use of all pesticides including; herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.
- Stop spraying weeds.
- Go organic with all seeds and bulbs.
- Use only peat-free compost.
- Use organic growing practices when caring for all council owned spaces.
- Ensuring that council owned spaces take into account all biodiversity.
- The strategy should engage at ward level during implementation and ensure it applies equally across all wards.
Libby Harris, Campaigns Support Worker at Birmingham Friends of the Earth said:
“Despite the devastating impacts that pesticides have on people’s health, the environment and biodiversity in general, Birmingham City Council continues to use them. The Council needs to ensure that the way green spaces are managed, protects and enhances the environment of Birmingham.
“We are pleased that the Council has produced a Birmingham Nature Recovery Strategy 2022-2030 but we need a complete ban on the use of all pesticides, transitioning to organic growing practices instead. Only peat-free compost should be used if the country’s peat bogs are to be protected from further depletion.
People have the right to a healthy environment and a biodiverse environment. We call on Birmingham City Council to implement an organic management strategy that applies equally across all the wards in our city.”
ENDS
Notes for Editors
- Birmingham Friends of the Earth believes the environment is for everyone. We want a healthy planet and a good quality of life for all those who live on it. We inspire people to act together for a thriving environment. We campaign on a range of issues including climate change, biodiversity, waste, transport, and food. For further information visit: www.birminghamfoe.org.uk
- More information about the Save Our Soil campaign visit:https://birminghamfoe.org.uk/save-our-soil/
- More information about Birmingham City Council’s Nature Recovery Strategy visit: https://birmingham.cmis.uk.com/Birmingham/Document.ashx?czJKcaeAi5tUFL1DTL2UE4zNRBcoShgo=EviFRX3w13JK8FvLljMbvy%2Fl6ou4Qscyj0vnMsIqDHFExG1e1PncEg%3D%3D&rUzwRPf%2BZ3zd4E7Ikn8Lyw%3D%3D=pwRE6AGJFLDNlh225F5QMaQWCtPHwdhUfCZ%2FLUQzgA2uL5jNRG4jdQ%3D%3D&mCTIbCubSFfXsDGW9IXnlg%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&kCx1AnS9%2FpWZQ40DXFvdEw%3D%3D=hFflUdN3100%3D&uJovDxwdjMPoYv%2BAJvYtyA%3D%3D=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&FgPlIEJYlotS%2BYGoBi5olA%3D%3D=NHdURQburHA%3D&d9Qjj0ag1Pd993jsyOJqFvmyB7X0CSQK=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNR9xqBux0r1Q8Za60lavYmz=ctNJFf55vVA%3D&WGewmoAfeNQ16B2MHuCpMRKZMwaG1PaO=ctNJFf55vVA%3D#:~:text=Aim%20of%20the%20Strategy&text=We%20will%20achieve%20this%20by,land%20dedicated%20to%20nature%20recovery.
