Commenting on new research published by nature last night (Sunday 21 October 2012),showing that a combination of two pesticides commonly used on UK fields can cause bumblebee colonies to collapse, Friends of the Earth Nature Campaigner Paul de Zylva said:

“The evidence linking pesticides to bee decline is mounting – the Government must urgently re-write its feeble draft Pesticides Action Plan to protect our endangered bee populations.

“This new research showing that bees are harmed by a cocktail of chemicals mustn’t be dismissed – it should sting the Government into taking decisive action to protect British bees and other important pollinators.”

The public consultation on the Government’s draft UK National Action Plan (NAP) for pesticides ends today (Monday 22 October 2012):

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Nature- Ecology: Bumblebees and pesticides.

2. Friends of the Earth research, published earlier this year, found it would cost the UK an extra £1.8billion every year to hand-pollinate crops without bees. A  briefing on the report and the full report are available.