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Fundraising

It is necessary to hold fundraising events throughout the year to cover the rising cost of the hall and speakers. Any ideas for fund raising events would be very much appreciated. Volunteers are always welcome. If you would like to email us with any contributions please click here.

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NFWI AGM

The Resolution to be discussed at May meeting ready for voting at the AGM at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 3rd June 2009 is:

 

'SOS for Honey Bees'

 

All About Bees

There are around 250 species of bee that can be found in the UK. This includes the honeybee, 25 species of bumblebee and many solitary bee species.

Sadly three species of bumblebee have already become extinct here and many more are in rapid decline. Only six species are now common and widespread as a lot of their natural habitats are being destroyed.

Bees are a keystone species for conservation. This means that they have a disproportionate effect on their environment compared to the number of them that exist.

This is because they pollinate the majority of our plants and help them to reproduce. Without bees there would be nothing to pollinate our crops and other plants, so they would go into decline and maybe even become extinct. This could have a devastating impact on the whole ecosystem.

Bumblebee species can be found all over the UK, however some of the rarer species have seen a massive decline in their range and are now only found in isolated pockets.

 

Habitat

Bumblebees can be found in most habitats where there are nectar- and pollen-filled plants – whether this is in your garden, on farmland or in the countryside.


Their habitats are now in serious decline because the way that our countryside and farmland are managed has changed a lot over recent years. Hedges, hay meadows and clover leys (fallow fields of clover) are no longer a usual part of our farmland. So there are a lot fewer flowers for the bees to feed on.

 

Conservation & threats

There has been a rapid decline in bumblebee numbers with three species already extinct in the UK. The main reason for this is the loss of their habitats. In total we've lost over 98% of our flower-rich habitats in the last 60 years.


Hedges have been removed and marshes drained. In particular, unimproved grasslands which are rich in wildflowers (hay meadows and chalk downland) have been almost entirely swept away, replaced by silage and cereal fields. These are all places that bees like to live and, without them, the number of bees has dropped sharply.


Bumblebees now have to rely more and more on urban gardens but even these do not always provide a good home for them. They require flowers all through the breeding season from March to September but they need to be native wild flowers. Unfortunately the exotic or highly cultivated garden flowers which many people like to plant in their gardens aren't good for them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Recycling

It is important that all members should recycle as much as they can.

 

It is necessary to Re Duce,  Re Use and Re Cycle whenever possible

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Recruiting

New members are always welcome

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Climate Change
  www.oxfam.org.uk/sisters play the videos on this site to see how climate change is affecting so many people all over the world and what we can do to help the situation Back to top
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