20 per cent of UK's honey bees died last winter

Photo: Jon SullivanMore research vital to ensure the security and future of the principal economic pollinator

Unacceptable and unsustainable high losses of the UK's pollination army of honey bees have been released by the British Beekeepers Association (BBKA) in its annual survey of winter colony losses.

Average national losses of 19.2 per cent were highest in the north of England at 32.1 per cent, and lowest 12.8 per cent in the east of England.

A period of really cold weather encouraged bee colonies to ‘cluster’ and good weather in early Spring, enabled bees to forage for pollen and nectar, contributed to the improved figures. No doubt, beekeepers also took more care to feed their colonies where necessary.

Tim Lovett, BBKA president, said: “The improved figure is very welcome, compared with the 30.5 per cent for winter 2007-08 but is way short of the 7-10 per cent which until the last five years has been considered acceptable.

“It underlines the need for research into the causes and remedies for disease in order to ensure that our principal economic pollinator, the honey bee, can survive the onslaught of the threats it currently faces. Also, it still shows that there is a worrying and continuing high level of colony loss which we have to attribute to disease and for which we currently have few answers in terms of husbandry or medication.

“Similar losses of livestock in other areas of farming such as the beef or dairy sectors would be rightly seen as disastrous with dramatic effects on food prices.

“These ongoing losses in the pollination army of honey bees cannot continue if we are to secure food supplies. Answers through research are urgently needed and steps must be taken to ensure that a substantial part of the 10 million pound hybrid fund made available under the ‘Pollinator Decline Initiative’ is ring-fenced for honey bee health research, recommended by the Public Accounts Committee.”