We’re looking for your help to reduce weeds across the city.
With spring around the corner, our beaches are getting busier with residents and tourists, our parks are getting colourful with budding trees and blooming flowers and, unfortunately, weeds are starting to fill our streets.
We’re asking volunteers to join us at our ‘Weed Warrior’ launch event on Friday 17 March.
We’re launching the Weed Warrior scheme to help tackle unruly weeds and overgrown vegetation across the city.
Our hardworking Cityclean team carry out weeding throughout spring and summer, but the labour-intensive nature of manual weeding means that some areas can become overgrown.
Volunteers will work together to remove weeds in problem areas by carrying out weed management and vegetation control tasks.
These areas have been identified by Cityclean staff, who are always actively working to reduce weeds on our streets.
The scheme aims make streets, twittens and other public spaces across Brighton & Hove more attractive for visitors and residents.
Weeds on public highways, streets and other rights of way cause access issues and damage street surfaces.
In 2019 we stopped using glyphosate, a harmful herbicide, to remove weeds on our streets. It was made clear at the time that this would result in more visible weeds.
Our launch Weed Warrior event is being held at Ladies Mile Road and starts at 10.30am.
More details about the event and how to book your place can be found on our Weed Warrior event listing on Eventbrite.
We will be running regular Weed Warrior events in particularly weedy areas over the spring and summer months.
If you cannot attend our first Weed Warrior event, a list of other events will be published on our Weed Warrior webpage.
If you can't attend an event but still want to get involved, you can volunteer to become a Weed Warrior in your local area.
Volunteers will be supplied with tools and trained how to weed safely at an induction session.
You can find more details about volunteering as a Weed Warrior on our Weed Warrior webpage.
Councillor Elaine Hills, Co-chair of the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee, said: “We know how important avoiding pesticides for weed removal is to our residents, which is why our streets have been glyphosate free since 2019.
“We’ve had difficulty recruiting for street cleansing positions in recent years and Cityclean are doing all they can to remove weeds.
“The Weed Warrior scheme will help us keep up with the demand of manual weeding through the spring and summer months.
“As well as Weed Warrior community events, volunteers can also join in by becoming a Weed Warrior in their local area.
“We hope the scheme provides an opportunity for residents to gain new skills, be more active, get out and about in the city and find new places to explore. You’ll also have the opportunity to meet new people who are all as passionate as you about looking after our beautiful city.”
