The big picture: using wildflower strips for pest control
They may be beautiful, but these strips prove pretty deadly for every farmer's mortal enemy: aphids
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Peter Tomkins 1932-2020
It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of Peter Tomkins on the 27th March.
It is with great sadness that we have to report the passing of Peter Tomkins on the 27th March. He was 87 years old.
Peter was Rothamsted's Apiarist for many years until his retirement in 1992. On leaving school at the age of 14, his father had shown him an advertisement for a job at Rothamsted Experimental Station. He applied for it, and after an interview with Colin Butler, was given the job, thinking he would be working in the "B department". On turning up for his first day at work he was horrified to find that he would be working with honey bees, but despite immediately being stung he became fascinated, and so began his lifelong love of bees.
After working as an assistant at Rothamsted for a few years he moved to Cornwall to work and after National Service he returned to work in the Bee Department at Rothamsted, and even after his official retirement, he came back to help manage the bees and work as a consultant for Inscentinel "sniffer bees".
In 2012 the Tomkins Field Laboratory at Rothamsted was named after him in recognition of his major contribution to bee research.
He wrote many articles for the bee press most notably in Beekeepers Quarterly and Bee Craft, and until very recently was travelling and giving talks at bee meetings all over the UK.
Peter was a Luton boy and keen Hatters fan, he was always cheerful and lived life to the full. His company and conversations were always interesting and fun, he was an inspiration and many people will miss him greatly.
ABOUT ROTHAMSTED RESEARCH
Rothamsted Research is the longest-running agricultural research institute in the world. We work from gene to field with a proud history of ground-breaking
discoveries in areas as diverse as crop management, statistical interpretation and soil health. Our founders, in 1843, were the pioneers of modern
agriculture, and we are known for our imaginative science and our collaborative approach to developing innovative farm practice.
Through independent research, we make significant contributions to improving agri-food systems in the UK and internationally, with
economic impact estimated to exceed £3 bn in annual contribution to the UK economy. Our strength lies in our systems approach, which combines strategic research,
interdisciplinary teams and multiple partnerships.
Rothamsted is home to three unique National Bioscience Research Infrastructures which are open to researchers from all over the world:
The Long-Term Experiments,
Rothamsted Insect Survey and the
North Wyke Farm Platform.
We are strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with additional support from other national and
international funding streams, and from industry. We are also supported by the Lawes Agricultural Trust (LAT).
ABOUT BBSRC
The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid
from the UK government.
BBSRC invests to push back the frontiers of biology and deliver a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future. Through our investments, we build and support a vibrant,
dynamic and inclusive community which delivers ground-breaking discoveries and develops bio-based solutions that contribute to tackling global challenges,
such as sustainable food production, climate change, and healthy ageing.
As part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), we not only play a pivotal role in fostering connections that enable the UK’s world-class research and innovation system
to flourish – we also have a responsibility to enable the creation of a research culture that is diverse, resilient, and engaged.
BBSRC proudly forges interdisciplinary collaborations where excellent bioscience has a fundamental role. We pioneer approaches that enhance the equality, diversity,
and inclusion of talent by investing in people, infrastructure, technologies, and partnerships on a global scale.
ABOUT LAT
The Lawes Agricultural Trust, established in 1889 by Sir John Bennet Lawes, supports Rothamsted Research’s national and international agricultural science through the provision of land, facilities and funding. LAT, a charitable trust, owns the estates at Harpenden and Broom's Barn, including many of the buildings used by Rothamsted Research. LAT provides an annual research grant to the Director, accommodation for nearly 200 people, and support for fellowships for young scientists from developing countries. LAT also makes capital grants to help modernise facilities at Rothamsted, or invests in new buildings.