Plan Bee

Whilst looking at the ethics behind the Co-Operative I found out that they are starting a program about how to save the bee.

Screen shot of the Co-Operative Plan Bee campaign.

Advertisement for the same campaign to save the bee. This billboard uses 10,000 bees.

Part One - Plan Bee - The Co-Operative

Part Two - Plan Bee - The Co-Operative

Bee Facts - Plan Bee

bees - the facts

1. Bees contribute £200m a year to the UK economy through pollination. Examples of foods pollinated by bees.
2. Bee numbers in the UK have halved over the last 20 years. Last year alone a fifth of bee colonies did not survive the winter.
3. No-one knows for certain what is causing bee losses. Explanations include: bad weather, pesticides, importing of non native bee species, viruses and a mite called Varroa.
4. Neonicontinoids are a group of pesticides that have been linked to bee declines elsewhere in Europe. Sign our petition.

There are 44,000 beekeepers in the UK and over 95% are amateur. It’s easier to keep bees than you might think

Plan Bee activity in 2010

1. The Co-operative will continue raise awareness about honeybees and their recent decline.

2. A further £160,000 has been made available to support research into the demise of the honeybee. This is in addition to £150,000 committed to research in 2009.

3. The Co-operative Food will continue with its temporary prohibition on the use of six of the neonicotinoid pesticides on own-brand fresh and frozen produce, which was introduced in 2009.[1]

4. The Co-operative Farms is in the second year of a three year trial to develop a wildflower seed mix that will be planted alongside crops on our farms.

5. The Co-operative will continue to support its members and customers to become bee-friendly gardeners, with advice and tips, through the Plan Bee campaign.

6. In 2009, The Co-operative gave away over 300,000 packets of seeds to members and customers. More packets of wildflower seeds will be given away in 2010.

7. The Co-operative will continue to make availablediscounted bee boxes which provide shelter for solitary bees.

8. The Co-operative will continue to support its members to find out more about amateur beekeeping. In 2010, we will have urban beekeeper training projects in Manchester, London and Scotland.

9. The Co-operative Farms is again inviting beekeepers to establish hives on its farms.

10. The Co-operative will continue to promote the two documentaries we produced about ‘What’s happening to bees in the UK’ and ‘The Co-operative’s Plan Bee’. We'll also continue to support the film documentary ‘Vanishing of the Bees’, released in UK cinemas in 2009.

    [1] In April 2010, in light of evidence that two of the neonicotinoids, acetamiprid and thiacloprid, are lower risk to bees these have been moved from prohibited to monitored status in the pesticides policy.