A lay person might think there may be a slight connection…
Having read that DEFRA is not interested in joining two other concerned EU countries in banning certain pesticides, I wrote to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust and asked if they are intending to campaign against them. This is the reply:
Many thanks for your interest and the attached links. The Trust is developing a number of policy positions and pesticide use is one of these. At present we are gathering evidence so that we can make the most informed decision with regard to the future use of these and other pesticides, and their effects of bumblebees and other beneficial invertebrates. As stated in the most recent Buzzword, BBCT would like to see much tighter controls on the use of insecticides in gardens and on their inclusion in composts.
Several questions have been raised in the UK & Scottish Parliaments regarding neonicotinoid pesticides, and there was a substantial Government debate on 17th June this year, largely relating to honey bees. A future option for the Trust may be to encourage our members, such as yourself, to campaign on this issue, in which event we would very much like to take you up on your offer of support. At the moment there are no plans to do this.
Bob Dawson Scottish Conservation Officer
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
School of Biological & Environmental Sciences
University of Stirling
FK9 4LA
E-mail: r.j.dawson@stir.ac.uk
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www.bumblebeeconservationtrust.co.uk