Last month, Wildlife Trusts Wales announced the launch of its pesticide-free pledge, urging communities across the country to ditch pesticides and do their bit to help protect Welsh nature. The charity, which aims to support wilder and more nature-rich Wales, says that, through just a few small steps, everybody can help save plants and animals and create a greener future for generations to come.

Here, we speak to Andy Charles-O’Callaghan, Campaigns Officer at The Wildlife Trusts, to find out more about the pledge and how you can help.

Why was this campaign launched?

Although pesticides may offer a quick solution to your pest problems, they can cause tremendous harm to people, pets and nature. Most people use pesticides to control flies, slugs, and other insects in their gardens. All pesticides are of course, toxic, even to non-target species, but despite this, they’re still widely available to buy. With this in mind, we believe everyone has a role to play to be part of the solution.

Some are extremely toxic, like Neonicotinoids, that may kill beneficial insects like bees and butterflies, impacting your garden’s unique ecosystem. Just one teaspoon (5g) is enough to deliver a lethal dose to 1¼ BILLION honeybees – enough dead bees to fill four long-wheel-base lorries! Some pesticides have also been found to have carcinogenic properties.

Many people may not realise the threat that also comes from their pet’s spot-on flea treatments. These can be washed off, making their way into streams and rivers with disastrous consequences as, once in our waterways, they affect aquatic plants and insects, contaminating our water sources.

In recent years, Welsh Water has identified growing levels of pesticides in areas where they were not previously seen. While these levels aren’t high enough to affect the drinking water coming out of our taps, they are enough to breach rigorous drinking water standards and result in additional chemicals and energy to treat water for customers.

What is the pledge?

Through just a few small changes, we can make a big difference. We’re asking the public to sign our pledge to go pesticide-free – to stop using pesticides that can harm wildlife. The benefits of using pesticides do not outweigh the risks, and there are plenty of other ways that you can combat pests.

Sign the pledge here today!

How can I make these changes?

By signing the pledge, you agree to:

1. Stop using pesticides in your garden -  There are plenty of natural solutions to pest control that you can try, like DIY salt, vinegar and garlic sprays, and deterrents like orange peels, eggshells and beer traps. Using strategic gardening practices like companion planting is also a good way to keep your garden pest-free and beautifully diverse with a range of fragrant herbs and flowers. Our pollinator friends will like this, too!

2. Be careful with flea treatments – The chemicals found in flea treatments can easily make their way into rivers, whether that’s through pets swimming in the water, going for a walk in the rain, or having their bedding washed following a treatment. Fipronil and Imidacloprid, the active ingredients in flea treatments, were banned from agricultural use in 2017 and 2018 because of their toxic effects on bees and other insect life. Despite this, they are regularly used in our homes on pets and one study, run between 2016-2018, found these chemicals to be present in 98% of rivers sampled.

Many pet owners choose to apply flea treatments monthly to prevent infestation, but this routine flea treatment is often unnecessary and could cause significant damage to rivers, streams, and aquatic wildlife, which are important for a healthy, thriving, and sustainable ecosystem. Flea collars can pose similar risks if pets wear them in water. Try using alternatives to prevent fleas like apple cider vinegar, neem oil (be careful with cats as some can be sensitive to this), coconut oil, and natural anti flea pet shampoos that are commonly scented with things like rosemary and peppermint which repel fleas. For pets that have fleas, there a range of natural methods you can try. If you are going to use flea treatments, only use them if your pet has fleas, rather than as a preventative measure, and be careful afterwards – don’t go for a walk in the rain or take your pet swimming and avoid washing pet bedding in the washing machine or bathtub for at least 14 days.

3. Share this message to help everyone take part – One person has the potential to influence many. We encourage everyone to read about the risks of pesticides, consider natural methods of pest control in their own gardening spaces, and share what you’ve learned with others. Please speak with your family and friends to help them make positive changes themselves. This is how we can honour the Pesticide-Free Pledge to better ourselves and protect nature.

What if I already have pesticides at home?

If you have any unused or leftover pesticides at home, it’s important that you know how to store and dispose of these correctly to minimise their impact on the environment. NEVER pour pesticides down the drain, sinks, toilet, or in ditches – dispose of them responsibly through your local authority’s waste centre. To learn more about your best practice when storing and disposing of pesticides, read PestSmart’s helpful guides here and here.