Question from John Milner (on behalf of Gravesham and Dartford Extinction Rebellion)

According to a survey carried out by Kent Wildlife Trust and Bug life, there has been a 70% decline in flying insects over the past 17 years in Kent – what actions are the Council taking to address this decline?

Specifically, is the Council participating in the ‘No Mow May’ campaign, and what is the Council policy on the use of herbicides and pesticides in the borough?

Thank you

Gravesham and Dartford Extinction Rebellion

The following question had been submitted by John Milner (Gravesham and Dartford Extinction Rebellion) and a response was given by Cllr John Burden, Leader of the Council.

Question

According to a survey carried out by Kent Wildlife Trust and Bug life, there has been a 70% decline in flying insects over the past 17 years in Kent – what actions are the Council taking to address this decline?

Specifically, is the Council participating in the ‘No Mow May’ campaign, and what is the Council policy on the use of herbicides and pesticides in the borough?

Thank you

Gravesham and Dartford Extinction Rebellion

Response

The decline in insects and wildlife is a deep concern for the Council and we are putting in place key strategies that will improve the natural habitat for insects and animals, for the benefit of all species, both within the areas under the direct control of the Council but also across the wider areas of the Borough given our place-shaping role.

Gravesham Borough Council has started a program of proactively planting more trees, and a wider selection of plants that not only encourage wildlife but also improve the look of an area.

An example of this is that during the last planting season over 3,200 trees and native whips were planted by the Council to create mini woodland environments and natural hedging.  This is an increase from an average of just over one hundred trees a year only a few years ago and I expect that this is a number that will continue to grow as GBC actively looks for carbon offsetting, alongside carbon reductions, as part of its strategy to prepare the Borough to be carbon neutral by 2030.

You may also have noticed that for the first time in over a decade the flower beds at the Gordon Promenade and Gardens have been changed to provide year-round colour and texture, again increasing the biodiversity of the area.  This is part of a bigger strategy for that important part of the Town that develops the dell, the rampart of New Tavern Fort, the lake and the surrounding tree species.

There are also many other areas that are being improved as part of the strategy, these include: improving the biodiversity of flower beds in communal housing areas, the introduction of more urban trees, dressing shop front areas with plants, developing wildflower chalk grasslands, introducing urban orchards, increased verge planting of wildflowers and bulbs, and replacing fencing with native hedging to soften the landscape where this is feasible.

Gravesham Borough Council didn’t participate in ‘No Mow May’.  We unfortunately we don’t have the infrastructure or machinery that will allow for the significant additional horticultural maintenance following such a period, but we will keep such an approach under review. As I have already outlined, there are many other initiatives that are being introduced in order to increase biodiversity in our parks and open spaces.

In relation to the use of herbicides and pesticides; where possible the use of dangerous and toxic poisons has been removed from use by the Council. There are very few occasions where this is an absolute necessity, with the eradication of knotweed and Japanese lily for example. Even then, we will always consider the use of alternative methods to treat these invasive species, such as the use of machinery and physical labour, and will use natural, plant based, products which quickly degrade if that is a viable option.