You may have seen Martin Harpers recent blog on this or the Independant article, but in short, the RSPB has been looking into the impacts of neonicotinoid pesticides for a long time now and the wealth of evidence highlighting the dangers to pollinating insects is still mounting. Given this recent evidence we are joining the call for a ban of neonic's for amateur use and on crops that attract pollinating insects.
Please make sure that if you are buying any pesticide products for garden use that they do not contain any neonicotinoids, the Soil Association have a list of products to avoid here, if you can avoid using chemicals in the garden completely then even better, try some chemical free principles to protect your garden crops, we have some tips here.
Warden Intern at Otmoor.
I'm glad the RSPB is taking this action. I've been concerned about this for a while. I had a spray recommended for killing vine weevils but did some research and used a nematode instead. I try to garden organically.
I'm very against using any chemical in the garden! Just as much I hate slugs and snails I never use pellets!
Cheers, Jason
Ian, is it worth sticking this for a bit so that it does not disappear down the front page. I garden organically with the help of the mad bad bantams and a variety of wildlife to help keep the pests down and if all else fails resort to the wash and squish school of bugiside. Citrus trees seem to attract scale insect.
Caroline in Jersey
Cin J
I too don't use chemicals in the garden, well done RSPB highlighting the problem. A theory I have had for a while is the use of slug pellets and the decrease in hedgehog population.
Lot to learn