Clover seeds to save the bees

A bee-keeper in the Pyrenees offered to send clover seeds to anyone in the world who wanted them to promote the welfare of wild bees, which he says are essential to the ecology. More than 60000 replies were received and now Nicholas Puech is getting the first 40000 envelopes to be posted. He asked people to send him clover seeds and volunteers helped him to fill the envelopes, which will be posted to addresses throughout France, Europe, Africa and North America.
He hopes to introduce the idea into schools in September and repeat the exercise with other seeds.

These thieves have been "buzzy"

Some 19 beehives were stolen in the region of Gaulene (Tarn) earlier this year as according to apiculteurs it is more profitable to steal and resell a hive than to spend the time raising the bees and collecting the honey. A hive can produce up to 40 kilos of honey and the loss of hives due to death of bees as a result (some think) of the use of pesticides has increased the price of honey, so the theft of the hives has become even more attractive.
The use of GPS tracking devices can help recover hives, but this is expensive and as many hives are in out of the way places it can be some time before the loss is noticed. The presumed thieves, who were not simply opportunist wrongdoers, but who knew which hives to take, have been arrested and will appear in court in Albi in January.
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Bee helpful

Taglines has featured many stories on the demise of bee populations in the region and today it is good to report an episode of bee solidarity. In fact there is an association called SolAbeille which aims to help apiculteurs throughout France and this weekend members mobilised to help colleagues in the south west.
The Ariege department has been particularly affected by losses and apiculteurs from all over France met this weekend to transfer more than 2 million bees in 70 swarms to the Pyrenean region. One can only hope that this action will be fruitful in preserving mountain plant species and local honey.
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Good news for bees

The Assembly passed a bill to forbid the use of neonicotinoid pesticides in France from 1st January 2016, against the advice of the government on Thursday. Several pesticides of this type are already banned, but the new bill proposes a complete ban.
It is neonicotinoids which are held to be the major menace to bees, which have seen a big decline in numbers in recent years.
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Senate rejects bee plea

The risk to bees in France has been widely reported (not least on Taglines) and according to the national beekeepers' association (UNAF) 2014 was the worst on record for honey production, with only about 10000 tonnes against 34000 tonnes 20 years ago. The decline is claimed to be the result of néonicotinoïdes in pesticides which has been decimating bee colonies.
UNAF had asked the government via a senate resolution to initiate a Europe-wide ban on the pesticides after a moratorium expires in July, but the Senate rejected the request.
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Plants for the garden that attract bees

Dear Val, 

  Thank you for the lovely response, its nice to know i'm completely normal! At the moment I don't have a website, but I am producing a small brochure for next year so if somebody is really interested i would be happy to post out next January. So far it is only in french but i could do an english version if needed.

  I am based in Gimat, dept 82 but on the border of the Gers. I generally open in the afternoons but at this time of year it's best to phone first. I also do a market in Toulouse, which has again stopped for the season , restarting march. I also do various shows throughout the year.

At the moment it is mostly perennial plants, again i will generally only grow something which i feel is able to cope with our climate. However there are always exceptions for the more experienced gardener!

                    There is still time to do planting this year as the weather has been mild, but i would stress that i would protect them in a very cold snap. All the plants are raised outside so they are tough but it pays to be cautious.

 I am trying to put together various educational ideas so have been working with local beekeepers. If you have some suggestions I would love to hear them.

     Thank you again

Emma  Telephone no. 09 88 66 45 32    emma.ruthen@gmail.com

 Val says  If anyone has suggestions  or would like the list sending to order, please contact Emma. I would be interested Emma.
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A lady after TAG reader's hearts, she loves bees

 Hi Val

   Le Jardin d'Emma   plantes mellifères 

This is the first time that I have come across your site and was very interested to read the comment from Susan Prie as this is a subject close to my heart.

 I will try and keep this as short as possible! 

      I have lived in this region for 10 years now and living in the countryside I am well aware of the catastrophe facing our bees ( this includes wild bees and other pollinators as well as the 'domestic' variety, butterflies also are included) . This has been going on for years. The countryside has become a desert for our insects and wildlife for many reasons; the use of chemicals, monocrops, loss of habitat, bad land management and indifference. 

            WE can and should sign petitions, lobby our governments , pester our departments BUT there is something we can do at a 'grassroots' level. First, think of yourself as a little bee flying over the countryside (go on you can!) looking for pollen and nectar. Where would you want to go? 

An area with no viable means of support OR a garden where there tends to be more flowers and less chemicals? For the bee the answer would be the garden of course.

   The garden is becoming the last safe refuge for our insects and wildlife, whether it is in a village, town or even the city. There are now beehives on top of many buildings, the musée Ingres at Montauban, even Fortnum & Masons produce their own honey from hives on its roof!

     This is where You come in, gardening for nature. Next time you buy a plant THINK is it  bee friendly? 

      This is what I did 4 years ago and realized that the majority of plants for sale in the gardencenters were modern sterile hybrids, no good for bees, and the majority were shipped in from all over the world, not good for local economy. So in response I started ' Le Jardin d'Emma Plantes mellifères'. A small specialist nursery raising plants locally from cuttings or seeds. 

 Both plants and insects are my passion and so I have spent the last few years promoting awareness of them both, at shows, talking to groups, helping design bee friendly gardens.

    There is so much that can be done , start by signing the petition for pollinis, pass the message on and then think garden! if each garden in every village, town or city had an area for bees think of the support they would be getting.

Thank You for reading my message and if anyone is interested I can be contacted by email on 

emma.ruthen@gmail.com 

Val says such an interesting post, we want to know more. Where is Jardin d'Emma plantes mellifère?

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Save those bees

Val says   this email was sent to us via Susan Pirie, bee keeper in the area. She and many others like her are worried about the huge use of pesticides in the country killing the essential bees. We hear that bees are actually doing better in the city than the country, sheer madness. All thinking people will want to watch the video and sign the petition.

Even if you don't listen to the whole message, the signature is VITAL!Madam, Sir,
I invite you to watch this video that we just recorded with the Pollinis team.
I will explain how the bees disappear, who is to blame, and how we can take action to stop the slaughter.
To see the video, click here.
Thank you to transfer this email to your contacts: no one should ignore what is happening right now with agriculture and nature. The stakes are too high!
Sincerely,
Marie-Antoinette
Director of Pollinis

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120,000 abeilles lâchées au-dessus de la ville pour polliniserenerg

Val says
I love stories like this, where bee hives / ruches are being placed on roof tops in cities, to help in pollination of the city flowers and plants. Three hives are apparently being mounted on top of the roof of the Musée Ingres in Montauban
The objectives of the project are  to show the young the problems with  the massive use of pesticides in the countryside and show bio diversity. In September there will be a chance for the inhabitants of Montauban  to taste the honey that has been harvested. 
What a great project, but what a shame it is needed.
Words to learn
abeilles    bees
ruches      hives
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Monday was a big day for Emmanuel and he still says " save the bees"

Emmanuel Giboulot  appeared before a judge in the city of Dijon on Monday after defying an official order to treat his vineyard against an insect suspected of transmitting a devastating plant disease.

Giboulot claims the pesticide is ineffective and damaging to pollinating insects such as bees, and insists the disease can be fought via more natural means.

The 51-year-old is being prosecuted by a branch of the French agricultureministry, under article 251-20 of the rural code, for "failing to apply an insecticide treatment to his vineyard" in July last year.

The winemaker faces a six-month prison sentence and a €30,000 (£25,000) fine for refusing to spray his vines.

"It kills not only the insect but also other fauna that are necessary for the natural balance in a vineyard," Giboulot told Le Monde.

Denis Thiery, a vine specialist at the National Institute for Agronomic Research, also told Le Monde: "Even if Pyrevert is of natural origins it is damaging for the environment. It'sis a neurotoxin that can affect not just insects, but birds, other animals, even the winemakers, depending on the doses used.

Last June another organic winemaker was prosecuted and convicted for not treating his vines but was spared a prison sentence or fine after finally agreeing to spray against the disease.

Val says  One would like to think sense would prevail but the department pressing the charge are adamant he should have sprayed... their law should be obeyed. 
Sadly that law is an ass. We will report on the courts decision on 7th of April         Comments to taglines82@gmail.com