Devon County Council congratulated on bee-harming pesticides ban commitment

A pledge by Devon County Council to protect bees from harmful pesticides on council land has been warmly welcomed by Friends of the Earth, Devon Wildlife Trust and Buglife South West.

The council announced its commitment on twitter following a meeting of its Cabinet yesterday:

*  #Devon CC leader says authority will endeavour to stop using ‘bee-harming’ pesticides on its land& encourage other bodies to do the same

*  Devon County Council agrees an action plan to protect bees from harmful pesticides and will endeavour to ban use on its land #DCCCabinet

On Tuesday (12 April) the organisations handed in a petition to Devon County Council leader John Hart of over 3700 Devon residents calling on the council to ban neonicotinoid pesticides on its land.

Council officers will now explore the practicalities of implementing a ban, including which parts of the council estate it can apply to.

Mike Birkin, Friends of the Earth South West campaigner said:

“We’re delighted that Devon County Council is committed to preventing bee-harming pesticides from being used on council-owned land. We hope other councils will now follow their lead.

“There is growing evidence of the threat neonicotinoids pose to bees – Devon rightly recognises that more can be done to protect these threatened pollinators that work so hard in our parks, gardens and countryside.”

Devon Wildlife Trust spokesman Dan Smith said:

“Devon County Council’s leadership on this issue is welcome news for Devon’s bees and other wildlife. The Council’s decision should benefit pollinating insects in many Devon parks, school grounds and thousands of miles of roadside verges. But, just as importantly, the commitment shown by the Council sends a clear message to other decision-makers that action can be taken to reverse the decline of our wildlife.”

Andrew Whitehouse, Buglife South West Manager said:

“This is fantastic news.  We are encouraged that Devon County Council has listened to our concerns, and the concerns of everyone who signed the petition.  By banning the use of neonicotinoid pesticides, Devon County Council are be showing great leadership in helping our beleaguered bees and other pollinators, and we hope other councils will follow.”

Devon WI was also part of a coalition of groups calling on the council to ban neonicotinoid pesticides on council-owned land.

Further consideration will be needed on how neonicotinoid pesticides can be eliminated from the County Farms Estate, where the council may not have the power to impose a ban. But campaigners expect a complete prohibition on the rest of the council’s land, including its country parks and nature reserves.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. On Wednesday 13 April Devon County Council Cabinet adopted a recommendation from a council committee that it “take all necessary steps where possible to prohibit the use of Neonicotinoids on land under the control or ownership of the County Council.” The minutes of the meeting, which were posted on Wednesday evening.

2. A petition from 3,750 Devon residents urging Devon County Council to ban bee-harming pesticides in Devon’s parks, gardens and countryside was handed in to council leader John Hart in Exeter yesterday (Tuesday 12 April). Photos are available on request.4. Neonicotinoid pesticides: Britain’s bees are under threat and pesticides are one of the factors behind this decline, along with habitat loss and climate change.

3. Neonicotinoid pesticides: Britain’s bees are under threat and pesticides are one of the factors behind this decline, along with habitat loss and climate change. Three neonicotinoid pesticides have been restricted across Europe since 2013 after scientists found they posed a “high acute risk” to honeybees. However they can be used on some crops such as wheat and the UK Government can allow temporary exemptions to the restrictions – as happened in the East of England last year.

4. East Sussex County Council has already banned neonicotinoid pesticides on its land.

5. According to Buglife’s South West Bees Project: “The South West is of national importance for bees, due to the unique conditions resulting from a combination of climate and great diversity of habitats. The region is home to nationally rare and threatened species, and for some, the South West supports a national stronghold or the last known population in the UK. The South West remains a national stronghold for the Long-horned mining bee (Eucera longicornis), particularly on soft cliffs in South Devon and Dorset. The Six-banded nomad bee (Nomada sexfasciata) is a cuckoo bee which uses the Long-horned mining bee as its host – this species is now only found on a single site in South Devon.”