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And the latest winners are...
Monthly online photo competition continues to deliver great imagery
THE Pitchcare community continues to respond to the Photo Gallery competition, with plenty of eye-catching submissions.
The sixth winner in our monthly competition was Graeme Roberts from Tandridge Golf Club.
Graeme receives a £100 voucher to spend in the Pitchcare Store (awarded to all monthly winners) with successful entries going into the final selection of monthly winning photographs for the chance to win a new iPad 5, set to be launched later this year.
August’s theme was “Sights of Summer”, and Graeme’s photo (pictured below) highlighted the early starts greenkeepers make in order to keep their courses in the best condition possible.
NFU say the Government’s
THE Government says it accepts the EU ban on the use of some pesticides linked to bee deaths, but it rejects the science behind the moratorium.
In a response to the Environmental Audit Committee, the Government does not acknowledge the case for a ban on these chemicals.
Early start at Tandridge Golf Club by Graeme Roberts
Graeme was followed by September’s “Winter Sports Presentation” winner, Stuart Webber, Head Groundsman at Whitgift School, whose entry showed the school’s rugby pitches beautifully striped up ahead of the Saturday fixtures.
This is the second time that Pitchcare members have voted one of Stuart’s photos a monthly winner.
The Committee says they are disappointed with this approach, whilst the National Farmers Union says the Government view is “balanced and sensible”.
Last April, the European Commission agreed to a EU wide ban, for two years from December, on some neonicotinoid chemicals used on crops attractive to bees.
Whilst there has been scientific division on the impact of these pesticides on bees, the British Government strongly opposed the plans.
The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) criticised the Government’s approach in their report earlier this year, and the Government now says that they accept the ban, but not the science behind it.
1st team pitch ready for Saturday’s game against Skinners by Stuart Webber
Both winning entrants receive a £100 Pitchcare Gift Voucher and go into our end of year shortlist to win an iPad 5.
Don’t forget that you can vote for your favourite “Autumn” October entry up until the 5th of November.
The overall winner will be announced in December and the competition begins again in January 2014.
WIN an iPAD 5
Apple’s iPad 5 will launch later this year and you could be the owner of this latest technology by uploading your photos to our photo gallery - it’s free to enter, so why not get snapping?
8 PC OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013
“We opposed these restrictions because our assessment was (and remains) that the evidence did not point to risks to pollinators that would justify the proposed restrictions,”
stance is “balanced and sensible”
To bee or not to bee, that is the question - Government accepts the ban on some pesticides, but doubts the science behind it
they wrote in a response that has been published by the Committee.”
“The Government stated they were not convinced by the results of laboratory studies showing harmful effects to bees from these chemicals. They argue that an “increasing number of field-realistic studies have failed to find an effect of neonicotinoids on bees”.
They also rejected the idea of banning the sale of neonicotinoids for use by gardeners and in parks.
However, the chair of the EAC, Joan Walley MP, says she is not happy with the Government’s ongoing wrangling over the science. “I am disappointed that the government has not accepted the great weight of scientific evidence that points to the need for the ban on these pesticides in line with the precautionary principle,” she said.
What exactly are Neonicotinoids?
Nicotine is not just lethal to humans in the form of cigarettes, but the chemical is also extremely toxic to insects.
Neonicotinoid pesticides are new nicotine-like chemicals and act on the nervous systems of insects with a lower threat to mammals and the environment than many older sprays.
Pesticides made in this way are water soluble, which means they can be applied to the soil and taken up by the whole plant - they are called “systemic”, meaning they turn the plant itself into a poison factory with toxins coming from roots, leaves, stems and pollen.
Neonicotinoids are often applied as seed treatments which means coating the seeds before planting.
However, the National Farmer’s Union welcomed the Government’s response to the Committee. Dr Chris Hartfield said it was a balanced and sensible assessment of the science. “Whilst acknowledging the importance of pollinators, the Government’s response also importantly recognises the value to society of food production and the
underpinning role pesticides play in that production,” he said. “These benefits have to be part of the consideration when managing the risks posed to the environment by pesticides.”
Both Syngenta and Bayer, which manufacture the chemicals at the centre of the moratorium, are now taking legal action against the European Commission in an effort to overturn the ban.
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