The Royal Horticultural Society is under fire for continuing to sell products that kill wildflowers and insects despite public statements to protect biodiversity.
Last year, the RHS stated that slugs and snails are no longer classified as pests. Leading garden charities say they are an important part of the garden ecosystem and "play an important role in green gardening."
However, critics say the charity must stop selling slugs and slaughter products on its website in order to stick with the idea. He also sells herbicides that harm bees and other insects at the RHS Garden Center.
RHS says it's working on phasing out an end product that fights weeds or insects. A spokesperson said: "From the beginning of May, RHS Retail will only sell chemical-free and preventive barrier products as part of our continued focus on sustainable gardening, in our gardens, in our stores and through the tips we offer."
The charity said it would revoke its licenses for its herbicide and slug pellet brands in 2021, adding, "Since we decided to license these products five years ago, we've changed our thinking significantly." Some independent retailers still sell old items. inventory levels.
Following the appeal, the RHS updated its website to remove the herbicide. Neudorff herbicides and others. He also added a paragraph about the sale of these products, which included the phrase: "Weeds are often classified as crops in the wrong places."
RHS said it has suspended production of the product for several weeks as part of an ongoing program to review the range and find sustainable alternatives.
Weeds contribute to garden biodiversity, while herbicides damage plants and external organisms that gardeners try to eliminate. Weeds and wildflowers can compete with plants for nutrients, light, and water, but many also attract pollinators and others improve the soil.
Traditional snail pellets contain metaldehyde, a toxic ingredient that is harmful to snails and other wildlife. Birds and porcupines are unlikely to eat the pellets, but they can be harmed if they eat the snails or dead snails that have eaten them.
Joel Ashton, a wildlife park designer and writer who campaigned on social media to remove products, said Britain's wildlife "is in decline, from insects to our birds and mammals".
It added: “RHS continues to sell and promote products that harm our local flora and fauna, including bees, beetles and other important pollinating insects, and those that target snails.
“The continued loss and destruction of these species has other adverse effects on the food chain, such as birds such as songbirds now on the Red List relying on snails for food.”
after the information campaign
According to Ashton, insect repellants are harmful because "birds need insects, caterpillars, etc. to return moisture to their chicks, so it's important to create a habitat that supports and encourages these insects."
He added: “Even products labeled organic and eco can be very harmful to bees. Most of them contain flupyrodifuron, which I know affects the brains of honey bees in the same way as neonicotinoids and pyrethroids, which can not only kill bees, but when released into our water systems, kill aquatic insect larvae in small doses. four parts per billion. It's important for society."
Ten years ago, the Wildlife Foundation partnered with RHS to encourage people to sit with wild animals. Tirza McSherry, director of communications and development for the Wildlife Foundation, said the public is urged to avoid the use of toxic pesticides that harm wildlife.
He added: "We also recognize that classifying plants as 'weeds' is often purely subjective, but nature is in trouble and we need to consider plant biodiversity and allow our wildflowers to thrive."
Stephen Moss, naturalist and writer, says the problem is symptomatic of a war between the neat gardener and the wild gardener.
“Here the RHS falls behind the curve and should leave a mark. Most gardeners do not want to use this product. When you have a garden center that sells bird food and bird food on the one hand, and products that poison insects on the other, it’s not collective thinking,” he said.
