Save the bees
The bee population is declining. And we're about to lose our environmental protections as we leave the EU. It's time to take action.
In 2013, the European Commission banned neonicotinoid pesticides, which are linked with the decline in bees and while our Government implemented the ban, they weren't happy about it. Just two years later, they lifted the ban in some areas [1].
Without the European Commission's ban, farmers in England and Wales would be free to continue use of harmful pesticides, which are leading to colony collapses. And without bees? Our plants won't be as pollinated, honey won't be produced and some plants won't be able to grow.
We are calling for our members to take action, in both helping to mitigate the effects in our homes and by lobbying the Government to ensure our bee populations can rise again. We call for:
- A ban on bee-harming pesticides in the United Kingdom
- Bee friendly gardens throughout the UK
- Local councils to ensure that all green areas include plants that assist bees with pollination.
Take action now!
1. Write to Your MP
Write to your MP to ask them to take action in parliament on banning bee-harming pesticides using our template
Dear [MP Name]
My name is [your name] and I am resident in your constituency of [constituency name]. I am writing to express my concern at the declining bee population in the United Kingdom.
The decline in bee population has been noted for decades and yet we are no closer to a solution. According to some research, the number of managed colonies dropped 53% between 1990 and 2005 (Potts et al, 2010) but due to a lack of monitoring the true effects of the bee decline are unknown. What we do know, is that action is desperately needed.
If our bees continue to decline, we will struggle to grow the crops we need to survive. Bees are the primary pollinators in our ecosystem and while other insects contribute to this, some crops such as the strawberry, rely heavily on bees to produce market quality goods (Chagnon et al, 1993). This loss would result in less crops and as a result less trade for the United Kingdom.
As my member of parliament, I therefore ask you to take urgent action. Please consider supporting a ban on the use of neonicotinoids and other harmful pesticides in the United Kingdom and please speak out about the desperate need for protecting our bees, encouraging my fellow constituents to plant bee friendly flowers such as Lavender or Foxglove.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
2. Write to your councillors
Write to your local councillors to ask them to plant bee friendly plants.
Dear [Councillor Name],
My name is [your name] and I am a resident in [your ward]. I am writing to ask that [your council] takes the needed drastic action on saving our declining bee population.
The decline in bee population has been noted for decades and yet we are no closer to a solution. According to some research, the number of managed colonies dropped 53% between 1990 and 2005 (Potts et al, 2010) but due to a lack of monitoring the true effects of the bee decline are unknown. What we do know, is that action is desperately needed.
If our bees continue to decline, we will struggle to grow the crops we need to survive. Bees are the primary pollinators in our ecosystem and while other insects contribute to this, some crops such as the strawberry, rely heavily on bees to produce market quality goods (Chagnon et al, 1993). This loss would result in less crops and as a result a decrease in trade for the United Kingdom.
As my local councillor, I therefore ask you to take urgent action. Please speak out about the desperate need for protecting our bees, encouraging my fellow constituents to plant bee friendly flowers such as Lavender or Foxglove and encourage our local authority to take all the action we can, including planting bee friendly plants and banning the use of harmful neoneconoids in our area. For more information on what local authorities can do to save the bees, please read this Friends of the Earth report, which includes case studies of other councils that have taken the needed action.
Yours sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
3. Share this page
Share this page on Facebook to alert your friends to take action or add our twibbon.
4. Distribute Our Materials
Order a Bee Saver Kit from Friends of the Earth or contact us for our materials to distribute in your local area.
5. Get Gardening!
On a small scale, we can plant bee-friendly plants in our gardens, or even provide bee hotels for solitary bees. Check out this guide by the British Bee Keeping Association.
Don't have a garden? Friends of the Earth have some suggestions here!