Sanders supports protection for UK bee population

Adrian Sanders MP has signed Early Day Motion 188 to convey his concern about the 30 per cent decline in the bee population since 2007.

Bees pollinate 70 per cent of the food eaten in the UK with DEFRA placing a commercial value of the population at approximately £165 million.

With the budget for commissioned bee health research and development lower in real term compared with 2001 and an increase in reports of colony collapse, the role of local beekeeping clubs are becoming increasingly important to protect the local bee population.

The decline in the domestic bee population has also placed pressure on the supply of British honey which is predicted to run out in the next three months if the situation does not significantly improve in the short term.   

Adrian commented: “I commend the work of beekeeping organisations in Devon and nation wide and call on the Government to increase the funding for bee research to secure the future of both the UK bee population and the supply of British honey.”