Flowers under threat from disappearing bees
Florists - 21/07/2006 09:52:23
Florists around Britain could lose out on business, as wild flowers and bumblebees disappear from the countryside.
Research carried out in the Netherlands and the UK has shown an alarming drop in the bee population and the flowers which they pollinate.
Leeds University's Dr Koos Biesmeijer, who led the study, said: "We were shocked by decline in plants as well as bees.
"If this pattern is replicated elsewhere, the 'pollinator services' we take for granted could be at risk. And with it the future for the plants we enjoy in our countryside," he claimed.
But the Bumblebee Conservation Trust is already acting to counter the decline by using a specially trained sniffer dog to search out bee nests.
Springer spaniel Quinn will join Joe Waters, who is undertaking a doctorate in bumblebee conservation ecology, in Scotland to begin his hunt.
The results of the research will let scientists know how many bumblebees remain in the wild and where they are living, allowing a conservation policy to be put in place.
With 70 per cent of wild flowers that rely on insects to pollinate showing a decline, florists will be hoping that Quinn has his nose well trained.
Florists in your area do a range of beautiful bouquets and bunches, many of which can be ordered online.