Dave Goulson (British biologist, conservationist, and Professor of Biology (Evolution, Behaviour and Environment) at the University of Sussex) has just completed an accepted paper that highlights the bee killing pesticides in the plants bought from many garden centres. This was a research paper that Beefayre customers helped fund. Each year we donate 3% of our profits to various bee conservation initiatives in the UK.
So when you are shopping from your local garden centre be sure to ask if the plants you are buying are pesticide free. This active questioning will help highlight the issue and motivate garden centres to source pesticide free plants. Do not underestimate the power of the consumer, you can help push for change! Seek out your local organic garden centres and nurseries and support outlets that promote bee friendly plants and plants free from pesticides.
Applications of pesticides to plants in garden centres are contributing to the exposure of harmful chemicals to our pollinating insects and bees. The neonic’s (the bad pesticides) will contaminate your soil and other plants in your garden ultimately killing your bees and other pollinators.
Many garden plants are purchased in the spring which will sadly provide a pulse of pesticide exposure at a critical time to developing honeybee and bumble bee colonies.
Interestingly Aldi has become the first major retailer in Europe to ban bee-harming pesticides from its groceries.
Click here to read the full paper ‘Ornamental plants on sale to the public are a significant source of pesticide residues with implications for the health of pollinating insects.’
