STROUD MP Neil Carmichael is renewing his call for a tougher Government Strategy to protect Bees in a House of Commons Debate today, Thursday, October 16.
A report by the Environmental Audit Committee, of which Neil is a member, led to the Government bringing forward a National Pollinator Strategy to help reverse the decline of bees in England.
The report identified the use of toxic pesticides and the loss of habitat as major factors causing the drop in bee populations.
97 per cent of the UK’s wildflower meadows have disappeared in the past 60 years.
And important bee habitat continues to be lost to development.
Over 70 per cent of UK land is farmed, so what happens there is pivotal to bees’ heath.
Neil Carmichael MP said: “Stroud is proud of its status as the first Bee Guardian Town and I know many local people are deeply concerned about the loss of our bees. I’m backing Friends of the Earth’s Bee Cause Campaign for a tough national Bee Action Plan that fully tackles all the threats that bees face, from reducing pesticides to creating more habitat, and I will be calling on the Government to toughen up their strategy."
Friends of the Earth Chief Executive, Andy Atkins, said: “It’s crunch time for our bees – people, businesses and politicians from all parties have persuaded the Government to draw up an action plan to reverse bee decline.
“But the draft is too vague about how farmers and developers will help bees and fails to tackle the widespread use of toxic pesticides”
Further information
Contact Neil Carmichael on 07850 005324
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