I, a dedicated beekeeper, am facing an alarming issue - the eviction of bees on my allotment by Southampton Council. Bees are not just an essential part of my life but an indispensable part of our ecosystem. Their role as significant pollinators cannot be understated, yet their numbers are in rapid decline.

We are in the midst of a bee crisis globally, with the UK being significantly affected. The British Beekeepers Association reported a drastic drop in the honey yield, nearly a third less in 2020, showing the stress on our bees. Now, the action of evicting bees from our local allotments only strains the situation further. We must remember that 5 small hives, like the ones on my allotment, can pollinate up to 50,000 plants a day. Losing them is tantamount to harming our local biodiversity and food security.

Every small effort to protect and conserve bees counts. Southampton Council must reconsider their decision on the eviction of bees from allotments for environmental reasons and the wider implications of a world without bees. Urgent action is needed. Sign the petition to urge Southampton Council to stop the eviction of bees from allotments.