Jesmond environmental campaigners are urging local residents to back a petition – titled “Let the Toon bloom” – begun by Save Newcastle Wildlife, that calls for Newcastle City Council to protect bees by cutting back on the mowing of verges and commit to a “comprehensive pollinator plan”.

Clare Andrews, a Green Party campaigner in Jesmond, says she believes the council should be looking to make the most of green spaces for the benefit of local people and nature. “We shouldn’t be mowing but letting verges grow,” she said. “Excessive mowing not only harms pollinators like bees, and other wildlife, but it’s also a waste of money. Paying to mow unused verges, around trees and on steep banks where people don’t walk, wheel, cycle or play serves no useful function.”

Ruth Bond a Jesmond bee-keeper, also supports the petition. “I’d really like to see the council save money and time by halting the stupid task of mowing and spreading weed killer on our verges,” she said. “These chemicals are bound to be harmful to bees and other pollinators. Herbicides have been proven to cause confusion and disorientation to flying insects, so can be as dangerous as pesticides.”

Experts believe an array of complex issues are contributing to the wild and managed bee population decline in the UK, ranging from the over-use of pesticides and herbicides to habitat destruction and loss of foraging sites, particularly in spring and early summer when grass verges and other key wildlife areas are disrupted. Excessive use of weed killers such as glyphosate, has also been shown to be harmful to humans.

Hazel Cooley, a Newcastle University PhD student who has previously conducted research into the effects of pesticides on bumblebee flight ability, and patterns in Argentinian and UK crop pollination, says that bees and other pollinators are necessary to maintaining the biodiversity of the UK’S natural wildlife, as well as pollinating our food supplies. The production of roughly 35% of the food we eat – one in three mouthfuls – depends on animal pollination service.

“Bees are being hit from all sides but several studies have already identified that bees are better able to combat the effects of pesticides and diseases when they have the correct nutrition,” she said. “The best way for bees to get the right nutrition is by providing them with a diverse array of wildflowers to provide them with pollen and nectar.”

The latest research suggests that bees are becoming more susceptible to certain pesticides, but being able to pollinate properly can make bees more resilient. “Bees are some of the most important pollinators out there. In many cases, if a plant isn’t pollinated it can’t set fruit or make seeds, or if it does, the quality will be poor,” she said. “Loads of really important food crops rely almost entirely on pollination.”

However not everyone is in support of reducing verge-mowing. Last year Newcastle City Council was criticised by some residents and councillors for not doing enough to maintain verges in parts of the city, receiving complaints about “jungle like wastelands“.

NB: Hazel Cooley is sister to Josh Cooley, the reporter who wrote this story.