B&Q bee harm ban

DIY and gardening retailer B&Q is doing its bit for bees and is set to ban selling flowering plants grown using pesticides which are harmful to the creatures.

A series of scientific studies have shown bees which are exposed to neonicotinoid pesticides in fields and suffer serious harm, reducing learning and memory and so impairing their communication, foraging efficiency and reproductive capability.

The European Commission has drawn up draft legislation to ban the chemicals. The ban comes into effect in February 2018. It is thought B&Q are the first retailer to commit to such an undertaking.