Covered in bees

At our last gathering, Friends of the Earth came to tell us about their Bee Cause campaign.

Bee numbers in Britain have fallen dramatically in recent years. Three bumblebee species are already extinct.

Many factors are causing bees' decline - from habitat loss, to disease, to climate change. There is also growing evidence that some pesticides harm bees.

Bees are essential to our food supply, economy and quality of life:

• They pollinate 75% of our most vital crops and favourite foods. Without bees it would cost UK farmers £1.8 billion a year to pollinate our crops. That's more than it costs farmers to produce all the milk consumed in the UK every year.
• They're essential to our gardens, parks and countryside. Bees and other insects help pollinate over 75% of our plants, which in turn are vital to our insects, birds and animals.

Friends of the Earth are calling for the Government to adopt a National Bee Action Plan to ensure the way we farm our food, plan our towns and cities, and protect our wildlife, is better for bees. They are also calling each of us to plant bee-friendly flowers, buy local honey or go on a Bee Walk. You can help bees at home, out and about, or in schools.

In response, Justice Matters members spent time constructing bee hotels to make bees welcome in Barnet. Have a look at the photos, sign the petition and maybe make your own bee hotel!