A growing petition with over 600 signatures is urging The Newt, a luxurious Somerset hotel famed for its sprawling, picturesque gardens and celebrity visitors, to cease using the herbicide glyphosate. Situated between Bruton and Castle Cary, The Newt is not only a retreat for global stars but also a celebrated landmark renowned for its natural beauty and biodiversity.
Campaigners argue that the application of glyphosate in the estate’s gardens jeopardizes vital pollinators such as bees, integral to maintaining healthy ecosystems. While the hotel’s garden team acknowledges sporadic herbicide use, they emphasize it is minimal and carefully timed during periods of low bee activity to mitigate impact.
Cameron Knee, the estate’s farm manager, stated that glyphosate is used approximately once annually on gravel areas to control weeds, highlighting efforts to prevent any negative effects on pollinator populations. Meanwhile, Harry Baldwin, head gardener, reinforced the hotel’s commitment to environmental stewardship, noting alternative weed control methods predominate to protect biodiversity across the 30-acre garden and extensive surrounding farmland.
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The petition describes The Newt as a “haven for wildlife” and a showcase of “unspoiled ecosystems,” warning that continued glyphosate use threatens this legacy. It calls on management to discontinue glyphosate immediately to uphold environmental integrity and inspire other estates in the region.
Owned by South African billionaires Karen Roos and her husband and set around the historic Hadspen House, The Newt attracts renowned guests including the Beckhams and Beyoncé. As a systemic herbicide, glyphosate targets weeds by inhibiting growth but recent research raises concerns about its unintended effects on bumblebee nest temperature regulation and honeybee gut health.
Despite these concerns, estate managers stress their environmental responsibility, with glyphosate restricted to specific zones and buffered to prevent contamination. Only 27% of the estate’s arable land sees any plant protection product use, underscoring their cautious approach.
The environmental debate around herbicide use at The Newt highlights broader challenges luxury estates face balancing maintaining pristine grounds with preserving vital wildlife. The petition signals heightened public scrutiny in an era demanding greener practices in all sectors.