Bee decline: Government to introduce "national pollinator strategy"

Thanks to everyone who signed the petition at Hilly Fields last Saturday!

A message from FOE...

Environment Minister Lord de Mauley made the announcement at a Friends of the Earth Bee Summit on Friday 28th June.

It follows an intense campaign by the environment charity for a Bee Action Plan - backed by big business, over 200 MPs and massive public outcry. Shadow bees minister Huw Irranca-Davies gave Labour's solid support for a bee action plan. 

We need a plan - and fast

• An action timetable commencing spring 2014 when bees wake up from hibernation.

• Measurable targets for reversing the loss of bees and other pollinators.

• The plan must involve other Government Departments, not just DEFRA

Swarms of support - but we can't rest up

Wild honey bees are nearly extinct. Some species of bumblebee have been lost altogether.

Friends of the Earth's Bee Summit is bringing together the likes of MPs, scientists and farmers to agree how to reverse the serious decline in Britain's bees.

Executive director Andy Atkins welcomed Lord de Mauley's announcement. But the environment charity wants specific commitment from the Government - in particular:

We're delighted that enormous pressure for a Bee Action Plan from scientists, businesses and the public has stung the Government into action.

The Minister's plan of action must be in place when bees emerge from hibernation next spring - we can't afford to gamble any longer with our food, countryside and economy.

 In just one week over 20,000 of you backed our Bee Cause action asking Lord de Mauley for a strong Bee Action Plan. It was a fantastic effort.

But public concern is understandable. The University of Reading recently revealed that a third of all honeybee colonies in England died over the winter.

Please help us keep up the pressure on the Government.

Bee Summit

This Friday, 28 June, Friends of the Earth is co-hosting the Bee Summit, along with Waitrose, the Co-op and the Women’s Institute. The Summit will be a gathering of key players with a role in tackling bee decline including farmers, retailers, scientists and academics, landowners and government officials. It's likely that the Government will make an announcement about their plans to protect bees at the Summit, and so with the right pressure from us now, we think they could be persuaded to announce meaningful action on bees this Friday.

We want to make sure David Cameron knows just how much buzz there’s been across the country recently about the need to save our bees, so please sign the online petition if you've not done so already - https://www.foe.co.uk/what_we_do/bee_cause_david_cameron_petition_39395.html

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