While the rest of us were focused on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, DEFRA were using the opportunity to hide a scandalous reversal on the use of bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticide on sugar beet crops.

In 2018 neonicotinoid pesticides were almost entirely banned in the EU because of the harm it causes bees and other pollinators.

Studies have shown that the group of pesticides damage the nervous systems and navigational abilities of bees and other pollinators. The pesticides also end up in streams and rivers and harm aquatic life.  They can also persist for a long time in the environment.

The then environment secretary, Michael Gove, was in favour of the ban in 2018 because we could not "afford to put our pollinator populations at risk".  That has changed now with this decision taken by DEFRA.

The chief executive of The Wildlife Trusts, Craig Bennett, has strongly criticised the decision as scandalous going to say,  “The Government has outlined ambitions to restore nature, promising to protect 30% of land by 2030 and reverse declines of precious wildlife - but at the same time, it is giving a green light to use a highly toxic chemical that could harm pollinating insects and pollute soils and rivers,"

HELP! STOP the government killing our bees and other pollinators now!