Southend decline of songbirds blamed on weed killer

Scientists are said to be trying to find the cause of a drastic reduction in bird numbers across the UK, particularly in the last eighteen months.

South East Essex Friends of the Earth is concerned glyphosate could be affecting insects and driving birds such as robins, blackbirds and sparrows away.

Earlier this year, it was revealed the weed killer was still being used in parts of Southend two years after council bosses promised to phase it out.

Jon Fuller, spokesman for South East Essex Friends of the Earth, said: “It’s definitely true and definitely happening and you can take the route back the their food. They eat a lot of insects and that’s where the core of this problem is.

Jon Fuller - spokesman for South East Essex Friends of the Earth (Image: File photo)

“Some biologists are saying that think it’s partly because we had such a wet 18-month period and that has an impact on moths, butterflies and other insects.”

Mr Fuller added: “It could also be partly the spraying of glyphosate in fields. That would also impact insect populations. There is a body of thought that it’s because we’ve been spraying too many chemicals on fields.”

Lydia Hyde, Labour Southend councillor responsible for climate, environment and waste, said efforts were continuing to reduce the use of glyphosate weedkiller around the city.

She said: “This is something we’ve picked back up from our last year in administration. We’re looking to stop the use of glyphosate so we don’t have that impact on our insect population.

“We did stop using it in our parks and green areas. They continue to be used where it’s more challenging on highways and roads. We are currently in the process of changing our mobile highways and our waste contract. That’s an opportunity for us to look at it alternative methods of weed removal.

“We do need to remove the weeds from pavements because people could trip over them and they can be a hazard but it’s doing it in a way that balances those two factors, getting rid of weeds and stopping the use of glyphosate.”