Liberal Democrats get Buzzing in Support of Bee Action Plan
Bees play a crucial role in our farms, gardens and countryside, and they’re essential to our food supply too.
Yet bees are facing an unprecedented crisis in the UK. Intensive farming, increased pesticide use, and continual habitat loss (they’ve lost 97% of their wildflower meadows in the past 60 years) all threaten their survival.
The Coalition Government has launched a consultation on how bees can be protected. Bees Minister Lord de Mauley urgently wants the views of the public on his plans.
Friends of the Earth has called upon the Government to institute a Bee Action Plan, which will include practical measures to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides.
To quote a leading Bee scientist, Professor Dave Goulson:
“The Bee Action Plan must include concrete action to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides – not just talk and good intentions. We need thousands of voices calling for a strong Bee Action Plan that will give nature a real boost.”
I have written on behalf of the Oldham Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council to the Minister supporting Friends of the Earth in their call for action, and readers can support the cause by signing their online petition at:
The time for action is now before Britain’s bees face terminal decline. Let’s be a nation that saves the bee.
Copy of the Letter to Lord de Mauley and FOE Bees report attached
The Rt. Hon. Lord de Mauley,
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
for the Natural Environment and Science,
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,
Nobel House,
17, Smith Square,
London
SW1P 3JR
Dear Minister,
Your Consultation on Addressing the Decline in Britain’s Bees
Bees play a crucial role in our farms, gardens and countryside, and they’re essential to our food supply too.
Yet bees are facing an unprecedented crisis in the UK. Intensive farming, increased pesticide use, and continual habitat loss (they’ve lost 97% of their wildflower meadows in the past 60 years) all threaten their survival.
Minister, in response to your call for consultation as to how the Government can best protect Britain’s bees, I am writing to you as Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Oldham Council to urge you to give serious and active consideration to the proposal by leading environmental charity, Friends of the Earth, to adopt a Bee Action Plan.
Friends of the Earth have helpfully published such a plan which I attach to this letter and I happily endorse it as a document that includes practical measures to support farmers to restore bee habitat to the countryside and cut back on using harmful pesticides.
In due course, I shall look forward to hearing more of the Coalition Government proposals to save the bee and, as a senior elected member in local government, am happy to advocate any part that local Councils can play in assisting their survival and propagation.
Minister, without action Britain’s bees face the prospect of terminal decline. I would urge both you and your ministerial aides to look to publish and implement a Bee Action Plan at the earliest opportunity as the time for action is now.
Yours sincerely
Howard Sykes
Enc