WHO WE HELP
Environmental control services - helping people, businesses and local authorities with invasive weed control and contaminated ground removal.
AMENITY WEED MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Herbicide spraying that only targets visible actively growing weeds. Cost effective and sustainable hard surface and municipal highways weed control for Local Authorities, Housing Associations, and Property and Facilities management companies.
Our Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach is more sustainable and cost effective – reducing herbicide usage by up to 60%.
We’ve developed a unique method of spraying both amenity weeds and moss control at the same time. And we can treat all your sports grounds or leisure facilities on a single contract.
Reduced herbicide usage for amenity contracts
The reduction in Glyphosate (an approved herbicide used to treat amenity weeds) is achieved by our in-house BASIS Advisor evolving a special tank mix and developing bespoke built quad bikes. Knapsacks are also used to spray herbicide using a new ultra low volume Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) hand-held unit.
Designed in-house and developed by a leading sprayer manufacturer, the new quadbikes provide full control of independent sprayer nozzles ensuring a targeted approach to weed control.
These highly efficient quad units provide a full width application span of over 2 metres using ultra low drift nozzles that conform to all current and forthcoming legislation. Tech on-board provides full GPS tracking with snail trail reports of areas treated. High daily outputs means contracts are completed on time with significantly reduced and minimal herbicide usage.
AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH
Integrated Weed management (IWM) is ideal for County and District Councils and Housing Associations. This approach uses minimal herbicide application by targeting it more precisely in combination with other non-herbicide management systems. This may also include spraying of ‘mowing margins’ to deter from the use of strimmers which not only damage tree bases but stones flicking up can damage vehicles and have the potential to harm pedestrians. Our IWM Consultancy Service assists in providing an efficient and considered weed management programme designed to keep expenditure levels down.
Adopting alternative weed control methods means we can:
- Minimise chemical usage with targeted herbicide treatment.
- Working with Local Authorities to integrate ‘sweeping’ regimes with herbicide applications.
- Reduce the risks associated with herbicide use such as storage, handling, use and disposal.
- Ensure safe and effective management of public open spaces and green spaces on estates.
- By creating wildflower meadows on roadside verges we reduce the reliance on mowing regimes.
iwm consultancy package
Environment Controls offers a Consultancy Service that provides a bespoke weed management strategy for the year, based on your goals and requirements, and key factors such as:
- New government directives mean Local Authorities should evidence an amenity weed management strategy that is compliant with current legislation and environmentally sustainable.
- The next generation of home buyers will expect to see a legacy of improvement when it comes to keeping their environment weed free.
- Commercial businesses seek options that meet their biodiversity goals.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Your IWM consultancy starts with a series of structured questions designed to determine your exact weed control requirements, followed by a consult call with our Specialist Advisory team to discuss the findings.
After your consultation, you’ll receive your bespoke IWM plan with full advice on recommended actions and implementation or, if you prefer, we can quote to provide the services.
protecting people and the environment when spraying in public areas
EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT OF OPEN & GREEN SPACES
Our amenity weed control services are geared for property managers and facilities companies that are required to keep property and associated green spaces looking their best.
We work with property management companies to ensure that they meet the expectations of residents and residential managers. As their approved contractor we control invasive weeds on land that is under their management. The Resident’s Management Company (RMC) approves the costs for such services to be included in the Service Charge budget so it is important they can rely on a highly experienced firm such as Environment Controls.
HAVE ALL YOUR SPORTS PITCHES TREATED UNDER ONE CONTRACT
Our herbicide services are ideal for seasonal treatment of sports grounds such:
- Football pitches
- Rugby grounds
- Cricket grounds
- Bowling greens
- Tennis courts
- Running tracks
We have found the most cost effective solution is to have multiple grounds treated in one day and we can offer a fixed price to help with budgeting. We also provide specialist control treatments for moss and algae on Multi Use Games Areas (MUGA) and hard surface sports areas such as tennis courts.
Why choose us
- In-house BASIS advisor, amenity assured
- Reduced herbicide usage by 60%
- More sustainable IWM approach
- Weed control for highways, hard surfaces and fine grass areas
Speak to an expert in amenity weed management
Our top clients
BEST PRACTICE
Whilst we advocate using the correct herbicide to suit the species and its environment, we also promote Integrated Weed Management as best practice. However, Glyphosate remains our herbicide of choice for hard surfaces and aquatic use, as it is safe, cost effective and gets the job done!
We also use selective herbicides to control broad leaf species within amenity areas such as grass land. These herbicides are recommended via an agronomy report by our BASIS specialist advisor.
We can also implement Controlled Droplet Application (CDA) to reduce the amount of herbicide and water usage in amenity areas.
LEGISLATION ON PESTICIDES
Government bodies release regular reports on pesticide usage within the UK. Data used to create the report is collected from companies using herbicides such as farming, horticulture and the amenity sector.
Risks associated with the use of pesticides in amenity areas, such as parks, is specifically considered as part of the authorisation process. Legally enforceable conditions of use are imposed on the way products can be applied to ensure the public are not exposed to levels of pesticides that would harm health or have unacceptable effects on the environment.
Pesticides in amenity areas should be used responsibly and only as part of an integrated programme of control. They can help deliver substantial benefits for society which include management of conservation areas, invasive species, and flood risks; access to high quality sporting facilities; and safe public spaces (for example, by preventing weed growth on hard surfaces creating trip hazards), industrial sites and transport infrastructure.
As members of the Amenity Forum we are constantly updating our best practices in the use of herbicide choices.