WI to debate plight of honeybees at AGM

More than five thousand WI members are expected to attend the National Federation of Women's Institutes' (NFWI) AGM at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Wednesday 3 June.

At this year's AGM WI members will discuss and vote on the following resolution: "SOS for Honey Bees: Honey Bees play a vital role in the pollination of food crops and in our environment. In view of concerns about the accelerating decline in the UK honey bee population, this meeting urges HM Government to increase funding for research into Bee Health."

NFWI Chair, Fay Mansell said: "WI members across the country have had the chance to debate the plight of our honey bees over recent months. If members vote to pass this resolution at our AGM, we will campaign on this issue in the year ahead to do all we can to save the nation's honey bees."

Guest speakers at the AGM include: actor and columnist Maureen Lipman; journalist Eve Pollard; Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) chief executive Dr John Low CBE; musician Richard Stilgoe (with Orpheus Centre apprentices); and Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate chief executive Jonathan Wild.

The findings of new NFWI commissioned research on violence against women in rural areas will also be announced at the AGM.

The NFWI 2009 AGM is sponsored by CAF.