Crisis may be over for honey bees as more survive winter
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.More honey bee colonies made it through this winter than last year despite the harsh conditions, the British Beekeepers' Association says today. But while there was a "small and encouraging improvement" in survival rates this year, the UK's honey bees are still not healthy enough, the organisation's president Martin Smith warns.
According to figures collected by the BBKA, 17 per cent of colonies across the UK were lost over the winter. However there were significant regional variations, with losses of more than a quarter of colonies (26 per cent) in the north of England compared to just 12.8 per cent in the South-west. In 2008-09, 19 per cent of colonies did not make it through the winter, while "disastrous" losses in 2007-08 saw 30 per cent die.
Mr Smith said: "It shows our honey bees are slowly moving out of intensive care, but they are still not healthy enough. Winter losses between 7 per cent and 10 per cent are acceptable. The current rate is not and neither are the vast regional differences.
"Yet there is no answer to what is causing the losses. Disease, bad weather and poor nutrition due to habitat loss are the prime suspects."
He called for more research into the causes of declines in honey bees in order to help sustain the increased survival rates.
And he said: "British beekeepers are having to work even harder at this time of year to replace their missing colonies so as to keep the honey flowing, and to maintain the 'pollination army' on which we depend for so much of our food and the beauty of our countryside."
The survey also revealed that beekeepers are taking steps to rebuild bee stocks, with the average number of hives being kept by each keeper rising from 3.7 in 2007 to 4.7 this year.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments