Cornwall is one of the most naturally beautiful parts of Britain. Its coastline draws millions of visitors every year and its gardens and green spaces are a source of genuine local pride. So when the county council announced plans to spray glyphosate onto its pavements and kerbsides to kill off roadside weeds the reaction from residents was swift and angry.
Thousands of people signed petitions against the proposal within days. On Tuesday dozens of protesters gathered outside county hall in Truro before a council meeting where the issue was formally debated. Several demonstrators wore beekeeper suits. One arrived in a gas mask. Another wore floppy ears to represent the rabbits and hedgehogs she believes the herbicide could harm. The message from the crowd was consistent: glyphosate does not belong in a county that has spent years moving away from it.
