Flagship is trialling a chemical-free approach to weed management. Pictured are Flagship colleagues, from left, Paul Nichols, Rebeka Smith, Jamie Davies, Charlotte Bane, Robert Flood

Flagship is turning over a new leaf by trialling a chemical-free approach to weed management across its estates. 

The housing provider has stopped using the weedkiller glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, in the east of England, in a one-year trial.

Ryan Cox, Neighbourhood Operations Manager, said Flagship’s gardeners would remove weeds manually or use organic and vinegar-based weedkillers until November instead.

Mr Cox said: “Glyphosate doesn't just kill weeds; it wipes out wildflowers and plants that birds, bees and other wildlife depend on.

"We understand that this trial will lead to more weeds, so our Neighbourhoods team will focus on ensuring health and safety issues such as trip hazards or visibility issues are addressed during each visit."

Flagship neighbourhood gardeners Paul Nichols, left, and Robert Flood, who are taking part in the glyphosate-free trial

Flagship (part of Bromford Flagship LiveWest, the UK’s largest provider of new affordable homes) manages over 1,200 green communal spaces across Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, and Cambridgeshire.

Flagship’s biodiversity plan calls for phasing out all harmful chemicals by 2030. Although glyphosate is licensed for use in the UK until December this year, it is likely to be restricted or banned in coming years, and there are already some restrictions in place in countries including Germany, France and Italy.

Mr Cox said: "This trial will help us understand what happens when we take glyphosate out of the picture. We're testing alternatives like Katoun Gold and New-Way Weed Spray to see if they can do the job without the environmental cost."

Vicki Tischler, Flagship’s Head of Neighbourhood Services, said: “This is a positive step forward in the way we manage our land and reflects our commitment to creating safer and healthier green spaces for both our customers and nature.”

Glyphosate is the world's most widely used herbicide and it has been at the centre of a long-running debate over its impact on health and the environment.

To find out more about the trial and give your feedback, visit this page: Chemical-free-survey