Congleton MP creates buzz about bee decline
Congleton MP Fiona Bruce joined a giant bumble bee and campaigners from the environment charity Friends of the Earth to draw attention to the alarming decline in UK bee numbers.
Fiona Bruce MP, speaking from Parliament this week said
“Bees are not only makers of honey, they are also crucial for pollinating crops and plants. Bees pollinate 75% of our plants – vital to our food supply as well as the survival of birds, plants and insects. A sharp fall in their number in recent years has led to growing concerns about the impact this may have on our local environment, farmers, the economy and our food sustainability, so this is my no means an academic issue but has real relevance for us all.
A study last year found that if bees disappeared it would cost British farmers at least £1.8 billion a year to pollinate their crops by hand - which would cause food prices, such as fresh fruit and veg, to rocket.
Concerns about the rapid decline in British Bees are valid. Two bumble bee species are already extinct and action is necessary to stall the downward spiral in bee numbers. I commend the Friends of the Earth’s campaign in this connection.”
The Friends of the Earth Bee Cause campaign has been backed by more than 80,000 people and calls for the Government to urgently to introduce a National Bee Action Plan aimed at saving our bees.
Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said:
“I’m delighted Fiona is showing support for Britain’s threatened bees – they are under severe threat and need all the support they can get.
“People up and down the country can help by creating bee-friendly gardens and habitats to enable bees to thrive, but it is vital that the Government does its bit too by introducing a National Bee Action Plan.”
Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause campaign is asking the Government to adopt a National Bee Action Plan:
· to ensure our towns and countryside provide bees with enough flowers to feed on and places to nest;
· to help farmers, gardeners and park keepers to reduce chemicals that harm bees;
· and to protect Britain’s 250+ bee species, not only the ones who make our honey.
