PESTICIDE FREE BALERNO
Protect Nature
Protect Health
Protect Each other
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TIMELINE
2017
CHERRYTREE BECAME PESTICIDE FREE
Signatures were firstly gathered on paper from residents in a street within the Cherrytree estate, the council agreed it could become pesticide free!
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Further signatures were then gathered from the surrounding 200 houses. The paper petition asked the council to stop the application of harmful pesticides for weed control on our streets, pavements, and green areas, and for safe alternatives to be used instead.
2019
FOAMSTREAM BY WEEDINGTECH DEMONSTRATION
Global weed control company Weeding Tech visit Balerno to demonstrate their safe and environmentally friendly weed control technology.
Local councillors, group officials, businesses owners, and residents gather in the village to watch the Foamstream demonstration.
Safe to use around humans and animals and with the crucial bonus of protecting our soil and waterways, the appeal of safeguarding the environment for our future generations was attractive. We were impressed and realised why so many councils were already using this method!
We seen the ease and flexibility of the Foamstream system within a residential setting and 24 hours later we also seen evident the effectiveness of the treatment with some browned weeds!
2019
RAISING AWARENESS THROUGH A PETITION
We raised awareness through our petition at Local Markets, Fairs, and other local events. We also engaged with the local dog walkers, parenting groups, and children groups like Artclub and the Scouts.
Our young Environmentalists were the most engaged enthusiastic individuals and became core to the success of the initiative.
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Sharing informative clear leaflets from Pesticide Action Network helped us gain credibility and more support.
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We had a online and paper petition which helped us gather support among the Balerno community and persuade the city council.
2020 JANUARYÂ
SCOTMID COMMUNITY GRANT
Scotmid awarded PFB a £500 Community Grant to help the volunteer weeding group buy equipment and branded T-shirts
Vistaprint printed the T-shirts and skip caps for the Volunteers and in April 2020 we started manually weeding in style!
2020 FEBRUARYÂ
DEPUTATION TO EDINBURGH COUNCIL
Deputation to the City of Edinburgh Council Transport & Environment Committee, agreement was reached that Balerno would become Pesticide Free in 2020 and have their weeds manually removed by the volunteer weeding group with a trial of safe alternatives (Foam stream by Weeding Tech) proposed for 2021.
Hannah Conway from Pesticide Action Network travelled up to the deputation to speak on behalf of the Pesticide Free Balerno initiative.
Young Environmentalists from the local school spoke at the deputation speaking on behalf of themselves their families and for future generations.
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Pesticide Free Balerno are very proud and inspired by the next generation who want to make change happen not just talk about it!
2020 APRIL
VOLUNTEER WEEDING GROUP
With Balerno now secure in the knowledge that its streets and pavements were not being sprayed with harmful pesticides it was safe to allow volunteers to go out manual weeding .
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Individuals, mums, dads, grandparents, whole families, and professionals from all walks of life gave up some time to weed and we illustrated how it is perfectly possible to weed without using harmful chemicals.
Anyone with at least half an hour to spare could volunteer to weed at a location and time that was suitable for them.
Many residents supported the group by weeding outside their own home or street, or lending the use of their brown bin to the group for weed collection
2020 JUNE
WILDLIFE TRUSTS
Pesticide Free Balerno was chosen as a case study of a community helping to support the reverse of insect decline by the Wildlife Trusts.
Report co authored by esteemed author and bee expert Professor Dave Goulson.
2020 OCTOBERÂ
YOUNG SCOT AWARD
Young Environmentalists from Pesticide Free Balerno were nominated for the 'Young Scot Awards' for the crucial part they played in our successful campaign.
'First generation who are really feeling the sting of environmental collapse and last who can do something about it’
2020 DECEMBERÂ
EDINBURGH VOLUNTEERS AWARD
The Inspiring Volunteer Award given to the our Volunteer Weeding group for their outstanding effort and dedication to this voluntary initiative.
2021 MAY
FOAMSTREAM TRIAL
City of Edinburgh Council trials safe alternative for weed control foam stream by Weeding Tech in Balerno.
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First round of Hot Foam foam trials ran in May with two more trials to follow later in 2021. Selected areas of Balerno have been chosen for the Hot Foam application trial .
All of Balerno will remain Pesticide Free and enjoy chemical-free, completely harmless weed removal thanks to our volunteer weeding group who will attend to areas outwith the trial zones.
2021 NOVEMBER
RSPB AWARD
A representative from the RSPB came out to Balerno to award PFB Young Environmentalists with some Swift Nest boxes & educated us on the world of Swift’s .
The RSPB appreciate the fact that Balerno has become Pesticide Free & is a welcoming haven for Birds & biodiversity
2022 MARCH
SCOTMID COMMUNITY GRANT
Scotmid awarded PFB a £500 Community Grant to help the Volunteer Weeding group buy equipment and branded T-shirts
2022 MAY
VOLUNTEER WEEDING GROUP / COUNCIL
Balerno is Pesticide Free for weed control 2022 . Weedingtech Foamstream and HotWater safe alternatives still under discussion for 2023.
Pesticide Free Balerno Volunteer Weeding Group manually remove weeds with support of residents taking ownership of the small patch outside their house , manually removing weeds if safe and able to do so and helping neighbours
The City of Edinburgh council helped Deanpark Primary School manage their weeds -Pesticide Free -strimming around the perimeter.
The City of Edinburgh Council are willing to support communities who would like safe alternatives used for weed control .
With worldwide Pesticide Free awareness growing, it is no surprise that the ‘Pesticide Free Edinburgh’ petition numbers have soared
