REF:66-2205-8942009 - Using herbicides on campus

Thank you for taking the time to complete the university Tell Us Now form concerning weed spraying.

The use of Herbicides is kept to a minimum here at Aberystwyth to treat our weeds. When we do spray, it's to control and manage growth along building walls, and around signs, assist in reducing the need for strimming and improve the visual appearance of grass growth around our campuses. We apply it to footpath surfaces and roadside channels, as if left unchecked, pathways and paving can quickly become unsightly and hazardous and dangerous. We have reduced the number of times we spray and only apply it to footpaths and roadside channels twice a year (in April/May and September), regular sweeping of our roads and edges have assisted further with weed control and reduced the amount of chemical use.

The chemical herbicide used is based on a substance called glyphosate, which controls all types of vegetation. Glyphosate has extremely low toxicity to animals and poses minimal risk to humans. Glyphosate is shown as the most cost-effective method of controlling weeds, and we continue to review the Government and the Health and Safety Executive's advice on the use of weed killers as research continues to develop in this area. We also have and use a flame gun to reduce herbicide use and this is used when we need to control weeds outside the above period and on paved areas for any special events.

As you will see when you walk around our campuses and woodlands, we have several natural areas where we do not use any herbicide and have allowed these areas to naturally develop with limited management to control and maintain a safe working and study facility. This forms part of our Landscape Management Plan which was approved by Exec in 2021 where a joint working party was set up to develop a long-term conservation plan for Penglais Campus Grounds. The party included representatives of the Ceredigion Branch of the Welsh Historic Gardens Trust, and officers and staff of Aberystwyth University from IBERS, H&S (Conservation & Environment) Sports Centre, Estates. Thus, ensuring we continue to maintain our historic Grade II* listed and Green Flag status.

As the campus is a vibrant and heavily used landscape with many different uses and stakeholder aspirations, we try to manage and carefully meet everyone's expectations.