NEW FOREST TODAY MAGAZINE

Bees & trees

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Bees play an important part in our ecosystem.

Get buzzing

Many gardens will soon be buzzing with sounds of bees. But the reality isn’t as perfect as it may seem, since the bee population is in dramatic decline.

This isn’t good news for the bees or us as they play an important part in the ecosystem - they are valuable pollinators of crops and many flowering plants.

Without bees, many of our plants will not bear fruit and we could be faced with higher food costs and potential shortages.

We can all do our bit to halt the decline of the bee population by creating new habitats for bees and by understanding more about what we can do to help these wonderful creatures survive.

Bees in a swarm are not usually a threat - if you discover a swarm you should contact New Forest District Council’s pest control department who will put you in touch with a New Forest beekeeper. Call 023 8028 5592.

Branching out

Trees are very important to our environment but sadly they are sometimes felled or badly pruned, often unnecessarily. Councils have specific powers to protect trees, which appear to be under threat, for the benefit of the wider community by making Tree Preservation Orders (TPO). If you would like to carry out works to your tree you should always contact the council’s tree team first in order to confirm whether the tree is protected and if so, apply for the necessary permission. There is no charge for making a tree works application.

It is the landowner as well as the contractor that is liable for any damages so it is always best to make sure. Contact the New Forest District Council tree team on 023 8028 5330 or for any tree works inside the New Forest National Park, contact the Tree Team on 01590 646650 or visit www.newforestnpa.gov.uk/trees