Healthy habitats – Tewkesbury Borough Council commits to sustainable policies
Posted on: 26 November 2025
Tewkesbury Borough Council has taken decisive action at its council meeting on Tuesday, 18 November 2025. The council adopted two new policies to protect the environment: a peat-free policy and a new pesticide policy. Both sit within the council’s 2025 – 2028 plan priority of ‘Caring for our environment’ and strengthens its response to the climate and ecological emergencies.
The UK Government will ban peat-containing products from 2027, with some exceptions until 2030. Tewkesbury Borough Council is acting earlier, committing to ban the use of peat-containing products – specifically potted plants purchased for council land – by December 2025.
Ubico the council’s waste and green space contractor, which carries out most of the council’s grounds maintenance and tree planting, will ensure no peat-based compost is used.
The council has also formalised its long-standing practice of avoiding pesticides. The new pesticide policy confirms that harmful chemicals will not be used on council land, protecting biodiversity and public health.
Cllr Cate Cody, Lead Member for Climate and Ecology said: “Peatlands are the UK’s largest carbon store, so leaving peat in the ground is vital and this policy ensures that we do just that. Although we have been peat-free for some time, this makes sure that all our contractors adhere to our policy too. We also take the use of pesticides very seriously due to the harm they cause to humans, wildlife, our soil, rivers and more. We are interested in helping our wildlife and ecosystems to thrive and this policy will also strengthen this.”
While the council does not own farmland, it will signpost interested landowners to alternative pest control methods and resources such as Pesticide Action Network.
Both policies are available on the council’s climate webpages.
