Who we are

Safe Land for Bees is a Bristol based group set up to create awareness of the crisis for bees and the issues facing them. Our aim is to create a network of land where bees can live safely and thrive.

Issues bees face
Bees are essential and indispensable to our food supply. They are vital for pollination which most crops rely on. ⅓ of the things on our table are there because of the work of bees. Yet they have recently come under great threat. Colony Collapse Disorder and other diseases are leading to rapid declines in the number of both honey bees and wild bees.




Safe Land for Bees feels that key issues behind the current crisis that bees are facing are:

• The use of pesticides and herbicides in farming, especially neonicotinoids which are already banned in some countries because of their effects on bees.
• Microwave radiation from mobile phone masts, wifi, etc. These have been shown to interfere with bees' communication and navigation systems, and the numbers and range of masts at present mean that it is often impossible for bees to avoid radiation from them.
• The loss of wildlife areas and / or areas with a range of foods for bees that will sustain them throughout the year. Agricultural monocultures can cause a lack of a healthy diet for bees, or even near starvation at certain times of the year. And where GM crops have been planted this adds in yet another level of unknown dangers to bees.
• The use of unsustainable beekeeping practises which undermine bees' natural way of life.
• The increase in the number of diseases and parasites affecting bees at present. However, we see this primarily as an effect of the above four issues rather than a cause. When bees' immune systems are weakened in so many ways, they become susceptible to diseases that previously they would have been able to deal with.

We call for

• The establishment of pesticide and herbicide free areas, and a government ban on neonicotinoids.
• Robust regulation of mobile phone masts and other microwave radiation, and free public access to information about where the masts are.
• Education about, and the widespread adoption of, sustainable bee keeping practices.
• The maintenance and creation of areas which are wild and/or with a range of habitats and plants for bees.
• We feel it is important to involve and motivate people to support the bees by conveying a positive picture of bees and having small local things that people can do, like making their gardens and allotments more bee friendly.

SLFB aims to protect and preserve the bio-diversity of the world.

"Every living thing comes from the earth. We want to keep our beautiful natural world - the earth - going, and bees are part of that world" - Sarah M SLFB group member.
"Bees are great because they link two areas which are often disconnected: people's interests and being kind to the planet. It shows how the planet is also people's life support system" Diane, SLFB group member.
Pictured: Sami Chugg, Chairperson, Safe Land for Bees


For further information
Email safelandforbees@googlemail.com