Street weeding 2026 trial details

How the trials work

Building on the 2024 trials, we're running two more trials beginning in the 2026 growing season.

These are in limited areas to test alternative approaches that could help limit the use of glyphosate and other chemical herbicides.

Trial length

These trials will run for 12 months initially, with scope to continue beyond that subject to decision.

What we'll monitor

We'll closely monitor levels of plant growth on streets in the trial areas with a focus on potentially problematic weeds, such as those liable to form slip or trip hazards, obstructions, block drainage or damage the highway surface with their roots.

We'll compare levels with similar streets outside the trial areas.

Impact

The results of these trials will help to inform our future decisions on how best to control unwanted plant growth on local streets.

Future glyphosate use

Glyphosate is currently approved for use in the UK until 15 December, 2026. This deadline was extended to enable the UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to complete a full scientific safety assessment and public consultation.

Trial approach one

Approach: No chemical weedkiller

This trial will take a wholly manual and mechanical approach to weed removal. This will include increased manual removal for pavements using additional contractor resources dedicated to this task.

The trial commenced at the beginning of the 2026 growing season.

The streets within the trial area are:

Albert Road
Alpha Road
Anlaby Road
Arundel Close
Belvedere Close
Blandford Road
Burton's Road
Bushy Park Gardens
Cadogan Close
Chelsea Close
Connaught Road
Cranmer Road
Cross Street
Eastbank Road
Edward Road
Gloucester Road
Hampton Road
Hartland Road
Holly Road
Jeffs Close
Kent Drive
King's Road
Laurel Road
Lindsay Road
Links View Road
Myrtle Road
Oxford Road
Paget Close
Park Place
Parkside
Queen's Road
Sanders Close
School Road
School Road Avenue
Seymour Road
Sherwood Road
St James's Avenue
St James's Road
Taylor Close
The Garth
The Wilderness
Vincent Row
Westbank Road
Windmill Road
Wolsey Road

The map roughly indicates the trial area.

Trial approach two

Approach: Reducing chemical weedkiller

This trial will take an entirely new approach to spraying glyphosate using a 'controlled droplet' approach.

Three annual sprays will be replaced with two in the first year, reducing to once annually in future years if continued.

The first spray using the new approach should cover the whole pavement, excluding tree pits, similar to elsewhere in the borough. After that, spraying would only target visible weeds individually using a hand-held lance.

This has the potential to reduce glyphosate usage by up to 70%. The trial commenced in mid-June, with the first spray being completed end of July.

The streets within the trial area are:

Andover Road
Augusta Road
Beech Way
Belmont Road
Brinsworth Close
Bye Ways
Camac Road
Campbell Close
Campbell Road
Chestnut Road
Chestnut Road Passage - F/P
Churchview Road
Court Close
Devon Avenue
Dorset Way
Elm Close
Fulwell Park Avenue
Gloucester Road
Hereford Gardens
Lincoln Avenue
Lisbon Avenue
Manoel Road
Manor Road
Meadway
Mill Road
Park Crescent
Portugal Gardens
Post Lane
River Way
Rivermeads Avenue
Second Cross Road
Selkirk Road
South Close
Willow Way
Wiltshire Gardens

The map roughly indicates the trial area.

Keep up to date

Get in touch with us at weedingtrialslbr@richmond.gov.uk if you have any questions or comments about these trials.

Up to: Reduced chemical street weeding trials

Updated: 20 August 2026