The UK Government have re-authorised the use of a bee-killing pesticide despite an EU wide ban that’s been in place since 2018. The pesticides will aid farmers to protect their sugar beet crops but they're also known to kill bees and other pollinating insects, as well as erode soils and waterways.

By using these chemicals sold by the Chinese-owned agrochemical company Syngenta, we are knocking out the most vital and natural players in our food production line.

So this is a call to action to ask you, dear friends, to follow the link here and sign the petition to stop the use of bee and insect killing pesticides, neonicotinoids. Once you’ve signed, don’t forget to share!

The positive news relating to the petition is that the Wildlife Trusts, have taken up a legal challenge with the Government on the use of these deadly chemicals. You can see some statements regarding the action below. But do read all the way to the bottom of this blog article to discover some other ways to protect our pollinators.

Craig Bennett of the Wildlife Trusts said:

“We are preparing to take legal action unless the Government can prove it acted lawfully.  The Government refused a request for emergency authorisation in 2018 and we want to know what’s changed. Where’s the new evidence that it’s ok to use this extremely harmful pesticide?

“Using neonicotinoids not only threatens bees but is also extremely harmful to aquatic wildlife because the majority of the pesticide leaches into soil and then into waterways. Worse still, farmers are being recommended to use weed killer to kill wildflowers in and around sugar beet crops in a misguided attempt to prevent harm to bees in the surrounding area. This is a double blow for nature.

“Only 5% of this toxic neonicotinoid goes where it is wanted in the crop; most ends up in the soil where it can be absorbed by the roots of wildflowers, and also ends up in our rivers, potentially affecting other insects and wildlife.

“This comes at a time when the Government has yet again delayed the vitally important Environment Bill, and which once more highlights the gap between the rhetoric and reality of the Government’s commitment to restoring nature and tacking the twin nature and climate crises.

“Over 56,000 people have signed The Wildlife Trusts’ petition in the last few days to ask the Prime Minister to overturn the neonics decision, and 40,000 people have emailed their MP. Every single MP has been emailed by a constituent on this matter.”

Tom Short, solicitor at Leigh Day, lawyers who represented the Wildlife Trusts said:

“Our client is deeply concerned that the Secretary of State has granted this authorisation despite the serious risks that use of neonicotinoids outdoors presents to the natural world. The UK Expert Committee on Pesticides, along with many other expert bodies, has repeatedly urged against such authorisations. The Secretary of State’s announcement provides no new evidence of a genuine need to resort to the use neonicotinoids justifying an emergency authorisation or that the risks of such use can be adequately controlled. Our client is pressing for urgent answers and contemplates pursuing this in the courts if Secretary of State’s response falls short.”

The Wildlife Trusts said “Sugar beet farmers who will be allowed to use seeds dressed with the pesticide will be preparing for this year’s crop shortly, The Wildlife Trusts are seeking a response from George Eustice as a matter of urgency.”

So now that you’re clued up and you’ve signed the petition, how else can you help save the bees?

  • Plant bee friendly flowers - the soil association have some good pointers.

  • Craft a bee hotel - here’s how!

  • Avoid pesticides (obviously)

  • Keep bees, if you have the space.

Ok, well hopefully that’s enough to get you to sign and for you to take your own action to help protect these very helpful and precious creatures.

Thanks so much for reading and signing, Jill x

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