Solitary chicken - need advice

[Reynard]

I have cut & pasted this from the Bee Craft website. Bees are so essential I hope you will give up a few minutes to support the petition.

 

Tell all your friends!

 

Thanks

 

Given the scale of unexplained and unusual colony losses in the US and Europe and the discovery of Nosema ceranae in the UK, Bee Craft are supporting the appeal for a reasonable allocation of funds for beekeeping research. If you would like to register your support you may like to sign this petition to the government found at http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/BeeResearch On April 13th there were 1497 signatures. Please add your signature before June 11th.

[Reynard]

Here is the full explanation from the Government website..

 

The British Beekeeping Association has requested £8m for the government to fund 5 years research into Colony Collapse Disorder. The government has stated that no funds exist within the existing farming research budget.

 

Kept honey bees provide a significant percentage of pollination to food crops, fruit orchards and of course provide honey.

 

Colony Collapse Disorder is a disease which has affected hives in the US and has been reported in France, Germany and Italy. Its entry into the UK is most likely inevitable.

 

This fundamental research needs to be performed in order to protect the country bees before it arrives. As in almost all cases, being prepared for something reduces its impact for a fraction of the cost compared to being unprepared.

 

Currently only £1.35m per annum is available to the National Bee Unit (part of Defra), this funds all its statutory activities as well as research. If there is no money in the farm research budget, then money should be made available from contingency funds.

[AnnieR]

I've signed it!

 

Annie.

[Keanie Bean]

I've just signed it too, maybe you should get it moved to the nesting box area, where it might get more views.

[Lesley]

I've already signed.......

 

and I'll move this to the Nesting Box for wider coverage......

[Scooby]

Tis done!

[Reynard]

Many thanks to everyone who has signed.

 

It is possible that Colony Collapse Disorder is linked with the activities of a mite called varroa destructor.

 

The mite is an alien to Europe so our bees have no defence against it. It's also getting immune from the chemical treatments which is worrying.

 

Try this link for some photos of the mite on the developing bees..

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varroa_destructor

[ubereglu]

Have signed it.

 

Bees are such an important pollinator for plants and without them I suspect it would result in a lack of food, because without pollination plants cannot give fruit.

[Mutrix Farmers]

Have signed it.

 

Bees are such an important pollinator for plants and without them I suspect it would result in a lack of food, because without pollination plants cannot give fruit.

 

Totally agree. If only the powers that be would recognise this fact!

 

I've signed.

[redfrock]

we signed it at the Real Food festival at Earls Court

[Treekeeper]

Signed it yesterday there's growing concern over bees I read an article in a mag recently think it was Home Farmer

[MedusA]

Signed it!