More than three-quarters of British consumers believe that retailers should not sell plants grown with pesticides that are harmful to bees, a poll suggests.
Friends of the Earth said garden centres and other plant retailers were under increasing pressure to ensure that the plants they sell are free from pesticides linked to bee decline after the YouGov survey for the environmental charity found 78% of the public agreed they should not stock them.
The poll follows a study released last week that found retailers are selling supposedly “bee-friendly” plants that contain high levels of dangerous insecticides with more than 70% containing the controversial neonicotinoid chemicals which have been shown to cause significant harm to bees.
B&Q announced earlier this month that all flowering plants it sold would be grown free from pesticides linked to bee declines as part of efforts to help wildlife.
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