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| High weed pressure on pavement in an industrial area | Hot foam for thermal weed control in urban areas | Steaming weeds on kerbstones and adjacent areas |
Municipalities and counties in many European countries spend extensive time and money on weed control on hard surfaces, such as pavements, parking places, and flagged squares. Weeds are controlled for aesthetic and safety reasons and also for the protection of surfaces, especially pavements that would otherwise move apart over time. The standard method of control was earlier spraying with the herbicide glyphosate. However, pesticide use on hard surfaces has been severely restricted in some countries, e.g. in Denmark and the Netherlands, and in specific regions or municipalities in Germany and Sweden. Alternative control methods such as flaming, brushing, mowing and steaming are available and are used by some counties or regions. However, the methods are very costly compared to herbicide spraying, and the scientific knowledge for optimising control on different types of hard surfaces is still limited.
In view of the current restrictions - or of the restrictions to come - municipal and regional administrations have a strong interest to collaborate with each other and with research institutes to develop strategies, which control weeds satisfactorily with a reduced pesticide input.
Project activities will take place in all involved regions. Tests of weed control methods will take place on specifically selected areas in Denmark, Sweden, The Netherlands, Finland and Germany, representing different weed problems. Surveys will be conducted and data gathered in all seven participating countries. Partners will meet 1-2 times per year for exchange of results and planning. As an outcome of the project, guidelines for weed control will be made, and the information obtained will be disseminated to other local and regional authorities.
Presentations from partner's third meeting held in Gatwick, UK, on 27th April 2007, are available below:
Information about the on-going policy paper - major conclusions, Anne Merete Rask (DNK)Amenity use of pesticides: EU & UK Pesticide policy, Dr. Grant Stark (GBR)
How contractors control weeds on hard surfaces in the UK, now and in the future, issues and solutions, Mr. Mark Phillips (GBR)
Summary of the weed surveys in the UK, the Netherlands and Germany, Andrea Grundy (GBR)
Summary of the weed surveys in Sweden, Finland, Latvia and Denmark, David Hansson (SWE)
Major findings/conclusions of weeding strategies in Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Finland and the Netherlands, Palle Kristoffersen (DNK)
Presentations from researcher's second meeting held in Cesis, Latvia, on 7th December 2006, are available below:
Weed survey undertaken in Cesis (Latvia) in 2005/2006, Livija Zarina (LVA)Weed survey and weeding strategies undertaken in Malmö (Sweden) in 2006, David Hansson (SWE)
Weed survey and weeding strategies undertaken in Braunschweig (Germany) in 2006, Arnd Verschwele (DEU)
Weed survey undertaken in Royal Leamington Spa (UK) in 2005/2006, Andrea Grundy (GBR)
Weed survey and weeding strategies undertaken in Wageningen (the Netherlands) in 2006, Marleen Riemens (NLD)
Weed survey undertaken in Næstved (DNK) in 2005/2006, Bo Melander (DNK)
Test of weeding strategies in Denmark in 2006, Palle Kristoffersen (DNK)
Survey of policies on pesticide use by local and regional authorities, Anne Merete Rask (DNK)
Plans for weeding strategies on hard surfaces in the different partner countries in 2006 can be downloaded here
Presentations from partner's second meeting held in Wargeningen, The Netherlands, on 27th April 2006, are available below:
Weed survey in 2005 in the Netherlands, Corné Kempenaar (NL)Test of weeding strategies and plans for 2006 in the Netherlands, Bert Vermeulen and Corné Kempenaar (NL)
Weed survey in 2005 in the UK and plans for 2006, Andrea Grundy (GBR)
Weed survey in 2005 in Latvia and plans for 2006, Livija Zarina (LV)
Test of weeding strategies in 2005 in Denmark and plans for 2006, Palle Kristoffersen (DK)
Weed survey in 2005 in Denmark and plans for 2006, Bo Melander (DK)
For further information contact Bo Melander