Thirty-six towns in Quebec and Halifax in Nova Scotia (Canada) have banned the use of non-essential pesticides. They were concerned both with protecting people in the present and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations. The ban placed by Hudson's town council was challenged by two lawn care companies on the grounds that the chemicals have federal and provincial approval. The objection was rejected by Canada's Supreme Court on the basis that the Council's obvious aim is to protect health.

In the UK no such bans have ever been tried, but are sorely needed. The UK has an estimated 90,000 hectares of unnatural, green domestic lawns and thousands of parks and playing fields, most treated with highly toxic pesticides. 5,400 tonnes of non-agricultural pesticide active ingredients were used in 2000.

Pesticide-free Integrated Pest Management (IPM) lawn care is perfectly possible: developing a healthy soil, selecting the right grass, regular mowing leaving a high sward, allowing the clippings to be returned into the soil, and watering deeply but not too often all play a part. The grounds of Exeter University have been pesticide-free for ten years. Hockley Bowling Club's green, considered one of the best in the area, has been managed organically for six years. Worm casts are not a problem. Increased soil aeration encourages the worms to stay deeper. Many other park managers and groundspeople are now adopting IPM. 55 Green Flag Park Awards were given last year for reducing or eliminating pesticides-use.

More information is available from The Pesticides Trust's UK Local Action on Pesticide project. Please call on 0207 724 8895.