The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens (FCFCG) has welcomed today's launch of a Welsh Government action plan to boost Wales' ailing bee population by encouraging more green spaces, including community growing projects and allotments.

The Draft Action Plans for Pollinators for Wales Consultation is an attempt to protect threatened insect pollinators such as honey and bumble bees, hoverflies and butterflies. Pollinator numbers, particularly bees have been on the decline for many years.

Due to the enormous number of spurious account requests, I have been forced to disable the option of creating a user account on the web site. Please get in touch with me here if you want a user account creating - this will allow you to create content on the web site, interact on the discussion pages etc.

All I need is a name and e-mail address, how long you have kept bees and whether you (or a member of your family) is a paid up member of MBKA. If you want a picture associated with your account, let  me have that too.

I didn't see it myself, but a little bird (a bee hummingbird, perhaps?) told me that there was an item about beekeeping on yesterday's (Sunday 31 March) Countryfile. In case you missed it, it is available on I-player for the rest of the week. My internet connection is a bit flaky to watch it that way myself, but this is a link to it.

Doubtless that if it is worth a look, it will be appearing on youtube or a similar site in future.

I am afraid that our web site was down for most of the week 11 - 15th March. Apparently this was due to a problem with the servers, whoever they are.

Normal service has been restored, and I apologise if this interuption has caused anybody any inconvenience.