New strategy to support bees announced

Details of the new action plan devised by the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) were announced this morning.

Its aim is to protect the 1,500 species of pollinators such as bees that are vital for fertilising plants so they produce fruits and seeds - but that are believed to be in decline as a result of historic habitat loss.

It has been revealed that organisations such as Network Rail, Highways Agency and the National Trust which manage more than 800,000 hectares of land in England have signed up to the National Pollinator Strategy, and have pledged to take actions such as planting more bee-friendly wild flowers and allowing grass to grow longer.

Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss said: “As much as one third of the food we eat is pollinated by bees – from apples and pears to strawberries to beans. We now estimate the value of insects pollinating our crops and plants amounts to hundreds of millions of pounds.

“That’s why we are doing everything we can to help them thrive. Not everyone can become a beekeeper, but everyone from major landowners to window-box gardeners can play their part in boosting pollinators.”

Defra is setting up bee hives on the roof of their building in London and supermarkets including Waitrose and Coop have been distributing bee-friendly flower seeds to their customers.

Defra has also announced the a wild pollinator and farm wildlife package, which will see more funding made available to farmers and landowners that take steps to protect pollinators through the new Countryside Stewardship Scheme.