New partnership for Yorkshire Pest Control company

Yorkshire pest control company Key West Pest Control have announced a new partnership with Leeds Beekeeping Association in a bid to protect the dying bee species.

The partnership will see the pest control company launch a nationwide campaign raising awareness of how to identify bees and where to get help, in the hope that members of the public will refrain from taking matters into their own hands and killing bees.

The campaign was sparked by a letter that was sent to Key West Pest Control containing information about the brutal killing of a nest of bees.

In the letter, the author describes how an individual carelessly used bleach and hot water to kill an innocent nest of bees after being refused treatment from a local pest control company.

She approached Key West Pest Control in the hope that they would support her efforts to eliminate the unnecessary harming of bees and raise awareness of their importance, writing;

“Bees are a very important part of nature; they are very much needed and very much misunderstood. I am trying to raise a little awareness and wondered if you might consider including a phone number on your website?”

Bees are extremely vital to a healthy environment and a healthy economy as they pollinate much of the food that makes our diets healthy, but many organisations are reporting a rapid decline in their existence.

The Friends of the Earth report that 35 UK bee species are currently under threat of extinction, thanks to the increased use of toxic pesticides coupled with natural damage to their habitats.

Members of the public who take matters into their own hands and kill bees are significantly contributing to this rapid decline.

CEO of Key West Pest Control, Sean Mclean said: “Everybody knows that bees are in danger and the thought of people harming them doesn’t sit right with me.

“I know how important they are to the environment and I want to do more to help, which is why at Key West we recommend calling the LBA.”

Key West Pest Control, who are members of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA) currently refuse to respond to call-outs from concerned customers who believe they have a bee problem.

With a view to protecting the endangered species, they instead advise all concerned parties to contact the Leeds Beekeepers Association to arrange correct removal.

Leeds Beekeepers Association are an active association of hobbyist beekeepers who rescue and rehabilitate bees from Leeds, West Yorkshire and the surrounding areas.

Their aim is to raise public awareness of the importance of bees and beekeeping to the environment and have kept bees at their Temple Newsam apiary for the past 30 years.

To discuss how they may develop their relationship further with the LBA, Key West Pest Control made a special visit to their apiary.

Sean said: “Last year, our relationship with LBA allowed them to successfully remove three swarms but this year, we want to do more.

“We decided to visit the apiary to share with the public just how much work goes on behind the scenes and to raise awareness of the importance of calling the professionals rather than taking matters into their own hands.”

Sean and his team have now committed to launching a campaign via social media and their website in order to educate members of the public ahead of the bee season next April.

Sean said: “We’re hoping that with the power of social media and blogs we can reach people across the UK and encourage more of them to support the cause.

“If everyone does their little bit, then we can go a long way in protecting these valuable creatures.”

Key West Pest Control is based in West Yorkshire but serve clients throughout the whole of the UK. For the past 20 years, they have supported both residential and commercial customers with the treatment of infestations, both on a short term and long-term basis.

They have a strict policy to only treat pests that are a threat to residents or the general public.

To find out more about their values and ethos, please visit www.keywestpestcontrol.co.uk