Wildflowers Not Weeds!

June 14, 2023 Brittany Clarke

As part of the Pollenize #pesticidefreeplymouth campaign, we’re showcasing the real value of plants that many people consider to be ‘weeds’. By spraying these wildflowers with toxic chemicals such as Glyphosate (found in popular weedkillers like Roundup), we are not only contaminating our urban environment but also removing vital food sources for a wide range of pollinating insects. Insects and pollinators are fundamental to biodiversity but are in rapid decline, with many species at risk of disappearing from areas of the British Isles - we don’t want Plymouth to be one of them.

Let’s shine a light on some plants which are often targeted by harmful chemicals… we've created a species fact file for 10 of our favourite wildflowers to show the world just how many different types of bees, hoverflies and butterflies rely on them to survive!

Co- Written by Plymouth University Student Natasha Meaden

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So, as you can see, these beautiful wildflowers which are often targeted by pesticides are actually pretty amazing and support a wide range of insects vital for the food chain. Will you stand with us to put down the pesticides and stop the spray? If there is an ABSOLUTE need to remove these wildflowers … we can all find a kinder way! Please share this blog and sign our petition for a Pesticide Free Plymouth!

Sources

The Pollinator interaction information on the species file cards in this blog have been informed by the following databases on the data.gov.uk website: