Government urged to save British bees

• May. 4 by Natalie Adcock (1)

Birmingham bees will soon be extinct unless the government steps in to act by dedicating more money to research, claims organisation Help Save Bees.

As National Honey Week begins today, Help Save Bees states that different breeds of bumblebees and honeybees are dying out because of pesticides, land management reforms, farming practices, government legislation and pollution.

Help Save Bees founder Damian Grounds said:

“I started Help Save Bees after reading an article a few months ago, on the plight of our humble British Bee.

“The statistics alarmed me so much I set up HSB the next day to help create awareness of the problems, to encourage individuals to grow more bee friendly plants and to generate and donate money for research to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and Colony Collapse Disorder.

“Individually, each of us can make a small difference, one day, one plant at a time.”

The United Kingdom honeybee is suffering a 30% loss of population per year, having increased from 6% a year in 2003.

The predicament of British bees is significant because they are vital to the productivity of fields.

If plants are lost, then more bees and other insects are lost as well, which affects the birds and the animals that rely on them.

The consequences will work its way up the food chain until it finally reaches humans.

Already, places such as Lincoln are reporting a shortage of honey due to lack of bees and it seems only a matter of time until Birmingham residents will also notice the change.

To help the cause, sign this petition for more government funding.