Bee Programme on T V

Just finished watching this, woo. Very interesting programme and I've learned quite a bit too.

The conclusion didn't surprise me though.

It was encouraging that by making small changes a huge improvement was made (flower strips) in bee numbers. Seems like a win-win?

 

It seems to me that there is lots of food one minute then nowt for the Bee's

 

Did not see all the program but very interesting and it does seem there are more factors at work than just pesticides killing off the bees. I hope those who think just banning pesticides is the answer watched the program. The Dr. who done tests on bees making their way back to hive either infected with or without pesticide certainly seems to be onto something.

At first it did seem strange why urban bees are not affected and thriving. When it was pointed out that although our countryside looks lovely and green and healthy in fact as more land has been given over to agriculture it means less food for bees (and other wildlife) and hence a death blow for them, this problem with bees has been a long time coming with no quick fix.

We go metal detecting and back in 1991 the Stewardship Scheme and Wildlife Enhancement Scheme were introduced to farmers, now closed as other schemes have taken their place or at least the Stewardship Scheme. Very complicated to explain and I cannot as I do not know the ins & outs but if a farmer joined he would have one or more fields with a wide grass verge all around the edge which could not be touched in any way or form. This grass was there to let wildflowers etc grow for the wildlife (bees).

Something has changed as now we hardly see and grass strips around fields so no food. The first thing I thought of when I saw all those green fields with crops in that Bill Turnbull was looking from helicopter was this. If each farm only left just one field grow wild so wild flowers etc would grow what a source of food for countryside bees (animals) and could help a part in bee decline.

Of course this would never work as it comes down to money, the farmer cannot afford to loose a field of crop every year but I am sure the government could afford to compensate them. Up till a couple of years ago the government paid farmers NOT to plough all land and to let it grow wild.

This was called "set aside land" and I think basically the idea was if all land was cultivated with crops then there would be a glut of grain and destabilise prices!!! Now it has reversed ,all subsides paid by movement has gone so all fields are cultivated, I think as now there is not enough grain to feed people but again those set aside fields were or could of been a source of food for wild animals (bees).

The producer of pesticides on the programme last night also denied pesticides are having an effect, if used properly!!!!

Anyway that is my 2 pennyworth but Bill Turnbull did say there is a common factor in all of this, humans!!!! ???

P.S I hope no one starts a thread on humans and bio fuel.

Have a good day in garden.

 

We had a guy come to look at our heating, as we've got an old property and an old boiler. It's a 1979 Worcester oil boiler that's VERY thirsty! He was trying to push the biomass boilers... It wouldn't be a consideration as we'd still need oil for the Aga, but he was really trying to push that...

Back to bees, I've been trying to keep a bit of a 'meadow garden' at the bottom of the little croft we've got, and also some bee-friendly flowers in the main garden. Sadly, the ones they've really loved have run their course now, a prolific one growing in the wall with lovely purple flowers.

 

I agree Woo! Even a couple of square feet can provide some much needed shelter and flowers!

 

And he is correct: just as knives won't kill people either, if used properly. However, people don't use pesticides under laboratory conditions, so the potential for mistakes to happen increase.
But his denial is also an admission, if you think about it. Put it another way: "pesticides have a negative effect when used incorrectly".

Yes, its changed because now research is being funded (as shown on the programme) that having flower strips *increases* farmers yields Wow! Who knew!?

Agreed. Except now, it's being proposed to make it easier for those driveways to be a source of revenue for the homeowner "Renting of Driveways" And in these economic times, I doubt if those people will be putting bees before profit when doing the maths.

Personally, I found the programme 'encouraging' rather than depressing or "the end of the world is nigh".

I have a variety of bees in my garden and they are as busy as ever. I have fruit trees and bushes, I've planted flowers this year and have flowering shrubs. Last year I scattered wild flower seeds in one area and this year in another. While I can't take on the whole world (or bee population) I'm doing what I can in my own small world and in my own small way. As woo rightly says, if everyone would do that, it may be a different story?

 

Certainly any children I may have will be taught about bees etc

 

A few years ago now I read something from one of the UK based conservation charities/organisations. I can't remember which one it was, but they pointed out a couple of things (can't remember the stats hence the vagueness, but the point is still valid I think)

* There is more biodiversity in the average suburban garden than there is in an entire <large area> of countryside, due to modern 'monoculture' farming practices.
* Domestic gardens total <some huge number of hectares> and when combined, have the potential to be by far the biggest nature reserve in Britain.

They also said, and this is the interesting bit (to my mind at least), gardens are no good as islands. They need to be stitched together. Maybe not for airborne insects like bees, but for ground creatures certainly. I could make my back garden super lush, but it wont help if everything gets eaten while trying to cross the very exposed bare ground between my garden and the next one. Therefore we should do our best (within our abilities and rights) to create 'corridors' for the creatures to move about between different patches.

 

Funny but this last month we have seen a lot of bumbly bees in the garden, nice to see them and I hope a good sign.

Last week wifey watered the garden and must of knocked a bubbly bee onto the floor. She accidently trod on it, Mr/s bumbly was not amused and stung her on bottom of foot!!!!

Did not have anything to put on it and she declined the urine remedy ,well it works for jellyfish & those other spiny sea urchins.It hurt like hell and swelled up for about 24 hours.

She will never learn as she rarely wears shoes, even from the days when she used to run on track and got rollocked by her trainer. She will walk out in rain, snow, frost, stones etc; you name it she will walk on it without shoes. Been doing it now for around 50 years and bottom of feet are like hard leather so I suppose no harm done.