Residents have expressed their sadness after attempts to create mini-wildlife gardens in the earth around street trees were wiped out by Council contractors.

One householder, Bori Kiss, has joined a growing effort by people in the borough to plant wildflowers in what are known as 'tree pits', which can provide a haven for insects as well as improving their appearance.

However, she was shocked when her efforts proved to be in vain after Council contractors wiped out the wild plants by spraying them with a toxic chemical mix including the highly controversial glyphosate.

A number of UK retailers have stopped selling glyphosate amid health concerns. At the same time, many councils have banned glyphosate, not least because of concerns for the health of staff involved in the spraying, which has resulted in high profile lawsuits in the USA.

Bori, who lives in East Sheen, said: "I spent the first two years of the pandemic growing a little wildflower garden in the tree pit outside our house; only for the Council to go and spray it with glyphosate. It's all dead now - what is even the point?"

She told Nub News: "These little patches can provide valuable mini habitats for all sorts of urban fauna, not least bees.

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"And they can also form a network of sorts, connecting larger urban spaces and gardens. Plant covered areas retain moisture better than bare soil and don't warm up as much in the heat as soil or pavement does."

She added: "I don't think we should be killing any living creature in this climate emergency. If anything, the Council should ask people to plant or seed these tree pits.

"I would like to see my Council ban systemic herbicides and resort to mechanical means, for example scraping kerb edges or trimming plants, where it's really necessary. But in most cases we could just let our street plants be."

Richmond councillors, who have been actively supporting efforts by residents to plant flowers in tree pits, said they were equally shocked.

Councillor Julia Neden-Watts, who leads on environment issues for Richmond Council, said the spraying highlighted by Bori Kiss appears to have been a mistake and she has pledged to take the issue up with officials and contractors.

She said on Twitter: "Very sorry to learn of this. Planted up tree pits are meant to be left alone."

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Council Leader, Cllr Gareth Roberts, confirmed his own anger at the way contractors had behaved, telling Bori: "(I) am as annoyed by this as you are. We give instructions to our contractors but still it happens. We'll raise it again."

The Barnes Community Association has celebrated these rewilding efforts and the creation of what it describes as 'mini urban meadows'. The organisation posted a number of images of colourful and attractive displays to show what iss possible.

The organisation said they offer the benefit of helping biodiversity, improving residents' wellbeing and even flood resilience.