Back a ban for bees’ and our benefit | The Wildlife Trusts

Back a ban for bees’ and our benefit | The Wildlife Trusts

Paul Wilkinson, The Wildlife Trusts’ Head of Living Landscape, said: 

“The Government should follow the advice of the Environmental Audit Committee and place an immediate moratorium on the use of these chemicals. Although further research is always beneficial, there is sufficient and compelling evidence to apply the precautionary principle. We must do the right thing for our bees, our countryside, and our food supply that relies on natural pollination.” 

Over a six month period, the Committee has gathered written and oral evidence from leading scientists, Defra, the pesticide industry and others.  The Committee report recommends that Defra should prepare to introduce a moratorium on the use of imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam on crops that are attractive to bees by 1 January 2014.  The committee also recommend Defra supports such a proposal in the EU - which it has failed to do up until now. 

Bees, Pesticides, UK Government and me!

Dear Secretary of State and Minister,

Today's Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) report calls on the Government to address a series of important flaws in its pesticides policies and risk assessment processes.

I would like to join Friends of the Earth in voicing my support for all the EAC's recommendations. I urge you to do the same. In particular, the Committee unanimously backed European proposals for a temporary ban on the use of three neonicotinoid pesticides on crops attractive to honey bees.

Our bees are in trouble and urgently need the Government to put in place a British Bee Action Plan to tackle all causes of their decline.

This must ensure bees have adequate feeding and nesting space. But it must also include action to reduce the use of pesticides across the board, starting with the European Commission's proposed neonicotinoid ban.

In last month's European vote on this issue, the UK abstained. I support Friends of the Earth's call for you to change this position and support the ban.

You can contact me by email (preferably - to save resources) or at the following address:

Yours sincerely,
David German

Bees

Here is a letter I support.

The Bee Cause 05 April 2013 Join us Sign our Director's letter   Hello In the last few hours the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) has told the Government they got it wrong when they chose not to support a ban of the worst bee-harming pesticides. Please sign our Director's letter if you think the Government should support the ban The EAC has spent months hearing evidence on both sides of the argument. And they've concluded that 3 neonicotinoid pesticides should be banned and that Government policy on pesticides should be overhauled. If enough of us add our names we can persuade the Government to accept the EAC's recommendations - and follow the lead of the DIY stores and garden centres that have already taken some of the most dangerous pesticides off their shelves. Add your name to our Director's letter asking Ministers to ban the worst bee-harming pesticides Pesticides aren't the only cause of bee decline, but evidence of their importance is mounting. Winning a ban could be a massive step to secure their survival. Add your name today With best wishes, Lucy and the Bee Cause team #BeeCause

Race for Wildlife | Gwent Wildlife Trust

Race for Wildlife | Gwent Wildlife Trust

Any wildlife supporters / runners going to do this? See you there.

Botany Study Group field trip

Heart of the Levels Area Group.

Today our Study Group is going to a nature reserve near Buckland St Mary in Somerset.
We have around 17 members  most of whom come to all the trips.
As usual Anne Bebbington has already made a preliminary survey and as the cold weather is holding back flowering plants we will be mostly doing vegetative identifications.
The site is a mixture of damp neutral grassland with a small stream and an area of woodland. Boots are recommended!
We will be stopping for our packed lunch in the local village hall and finished about 3.30 pm ( British Summer Time since yesterday)
Weather clouded over and about 1 degree C and a bit breezy. Will report more soon.