Press release

Welsh Govt to develop bee action plan

23 July 2012

New plans by the Welsh Government announced today (Monday 23 July 2012) to develop an action plan to protect declining bee numbers and other pollinators have been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. The environment charity is urging David Cameron to introduce a national Bee Action Plan too.

The move follows the launch of The Bee Cause campaign by Friends of the Earth earlier this year which called for the Welsh and UK Governments to develop Bee Action Plans to protect the 250 plus species of bee in the UK.

Research by the University of Reading for Friends of the Earth earlier this year revealed it would cost at least £1.8 billion a year to replace the free service bees provided by pollinating our crops with pollination by hand.

Bees in the UK are declining at a worrying rate. Managed honey bee colonies fell by over 50 per cent between 1985 and 2005 and solitary bees have declined by more than half in the areas studied.

Friends of the Earth Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said:

"This is great news for Wales which will hopefully push David Cameron into taking action by introducing a UK Bee Action Plan too.

"Our bees are declining fast and urgently need protecting - without them the UK would have to spend millions of pounds hand-pollinating many of our favourite fruit and vegetables.

"The Government must protect our environment, farmers and consumers and stand up for British bees."

Friends of the Earth Cymru campaigner Bleddyn Lake said:

"We're delighted John Griffiths, Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, has acted so quickly on our call to help protect bees and other pollinators, which are in steep decline throughout the country.

"Thousands of people have already backed our campaign, The Bee Cause, which calls for action on habitat loss and pesticide-use.

"Farmers, councils and communities need help and advice to protect these essential pollinators - it would cost the UK at least £1.8 billion a year to replace bee services with hand pollination.

"It's fantastic that Wales is taking the lead with action to safeguard our environment and save the economy millions of pounds - the rest of the UK must follow quickly."

ENDS

Notes to editors: 

1.            The Welsh Government's Pollinators Action Plan will be developed in partnership with key agencies and might include things like:

•             Changes to the planning system that will help to make development 'pollinator friendly'

•             More "pollinator friendly" planting across the public estate, including on railway embankments and road verges

•             Joint working with local authorities on the management of parks and other public green spaces

•             Encouraging nurseries to sell "pollinator friendly" plants and provide advice to consumers

•             Building an evidence base on the impact of pesticides through joint working with the National Botanic Garden of Wales

•             Close working with Welsh Bee Keepers Association and other voluntary groups.

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. To read a briefing on the report, visit here. To read the full report visit here.

3.            Friends of the Earth's The Bee Cause campaign is supporting individuals to make change in their gardens and communities to help bees, and asking the Prime Minister to commit to a National Bee Action Plan. To support the call to David Cameron and find out what else you can do to help bees, visit The Bee Cause webpage www.foe.co.uk/bees.

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Published by Friends of the Earth Trust