GUIDANCE UPDATED FOR TURF PROFESSIONALS

Parks for London launched the 2025 edition of the Integrated Weed Management Reference Guide on 5 June at the first-ever Integrated Weed Management Conference, hosted by Kersten UK at Highbury Hall, Birmingham.

Originally published in 2020, the Guide was developed to support those responsible for managing parks, streets, and public spaces by equipping them with a toolbox of methods to prevent, tolerate, or suppress weed presence. It aims to guide practitioners in adopting a more holistic, sustainable approach to managing weeds that reduces reliance on chemicals and supports biodiversity.

This latest edition has been developed by Parks for London in collaboration with the Amenity Forum, with contributions and input from Kersten UK and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Following a comprehensive review, and the recent launch of the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025, the new edition reflects current national policy and regulatory updates and incorporates new evidence from industry trials, as well as emerging technologies, to provide improved guidance on weed management methods. Other key updates include:

• a framework for an integrated approach to weed management (IWM)
• a new section on soil and detritus management, highlighting its critical role in preventing weed establishment
• a practical detritus scale to support monitoring and planning
• improved templates for practitioners to adopt an IWM policy and implement IWM plans

This updated edition, which is now publicly accessible, has been made possible and thanks to funding provided by Defra, helping to ensure the Guide continues to support professionals across the sector with up-to-date, practical and sustainable weed management guidance.

Ed Stannard, executive director of Parks for London, said: “As pressures on our environment grow, it’s more important than ever to care for our green spaces in ways that are safe, sustainable, and forward-thinking. Our updated Integrated Weed Management Reference Guide equips land managers with practical tools to rethink attitudes to weeds, justify intervention where needed, and reduce reliance on plant protection products by considering less harmful alternatives.

"Adopting an integrated approach to weed management is a vital step toward protecting biodiversity, improving public health, and ensuring our shared spaces remain resilient and welcoming for everyone - now and in the future."