1. Tim Atkinson, Network Developer tim.atkinson@foe.co.uktim.atkinson@foe.co.uk and 0121 643 7456 www.foe.co.uk/bees Find out more about The Bee Cause, how to spread the word and ways we can help make our town bee-friendlier

2. National launch event

3. What’s the problem? Bees are under threat – UK bee numbers are declining – In Britain three species of bumblebee are extinct – 23 more on the official UK ‘red data’ list of threatened species

4. Some statistics The number of managed honeybee colonies in the UK fell by 53% between 1985 and 2005 Wild honeybees are thought to be nearly extinct through the British Isles Wild bumblebees are also declining – studies show that while some species are doing well, they are found in fewer areas across the UK

5. Key messages Bees are under threat and without them so is our food supply and economy: £1.8bn cost to farmers – up 20% Impact on food prices Most of our favourite fruit and vegetables depend on require insect pollination

6. Without bees and other insects, we would have no… Tomatoes and tomato sauce Coffee Oranges and orange juice Cumin and coriander (so no curry either) Apples and pears … and honey of course!

7. What are we calling for? A National Bee Action Plan: By the end of the 2012 bee season, for David Cameron to be on record as acknowledging the need for the Government to adopt and implement a national bee action plan using Friends of the Earth research. For everyone to take action where they are to raise awareness of bees and help create bee-friendly spaces

8. A National Bee Action Plan: Bee-friendly farming: creating wildflower spaces, protecting grasslands, maintaining hedgerows, wider use of crop rotation, suspension in use of neonicotinoid pesticide Bee-friendly planning: green spaces with right kinds of flowers & habitats, parks with wildflowers, bee-friendly landscaping, protecting brownfield sites, network of connected nature sites

9. Isn’t it all about pesticides? They are a big part of the problem FoE is calling for a suspension in use of ‘neonicotinoid’ a type of pesticide Pesticides are part of shift in farming practices Growth of large, intensive farming

10. Stalls at fun summer events Local launch events like this one Bee brunches for community leaders Bee Walks around your local area Bee-friendly planting Working with schools and youth groups Friendly swarms Other creative ideas Get your local area buzzzzzzing

11. The website – www.foe.co.uk/bees Go here for news, actions and resources