LETTER: It is important that bee ban is not lifted

I am a concerned local resident who wants to leave a healthy environment to our grandchildren and future generations. '¨Bees are one of the most important pollinators for plant species of all kinds, not only agricultural crops such as rapeseed but all wild flowers, grasses and trees etc. '¨We all know bee numbers have been seriously reduced over the last decades and disastrously so during the recent wet summers.

However, this week Environment Secretary Liz Truss could decide to lift the ban on bee-killing pesticides for some crops this summer. I want to speak up and protect our bees. Please report on this issue.

Lifting this ban could spell disaster for our bees.

The lobbyists from the big pesticide companies will be doing everything they can to convince Mrs Truss to lift the ban.

Over the last week, tens of thousands of 38 Degrees members, of which I am one, have leapt into action to protect our bees.

We’ve been writing to Mrs Truss and to our MPs. They’ve been meeting MPs face to face and planning a massive event in Parliament.

We’re throwing everything at this, because the ban on bee-killing pesticides was hard won and it must to be  upheld.

With the final decision so close, our MPs will be keeping a close eye on the public mood on bees. So together, let’s leave our MPs in no doubt: they need to help keep bee-killing pesticides off our fields.

Philip Heathcote

Nottingham Road, Mansfield