29/04/2013 Newsround

afternoon bulletin. Loads on the way for you, including: Why the

Netherlands are turning orange. And the big question answered - do

big cats like playing with boxes? First, it's good news for bees

across Europe this afternoon after politicians voted to ban chemicals

that may be killing them. These pesticides used to protect crops

will be restricted for two years. Bee numbers have plummeted recently,

and this matters to all of us because they pollinate the crops we

eat. The UK government was against the decision, arguing that there

wasn't enough evidence that the chemicals harmed bees. Some farmers

are worried that any ban will damage the production of food because crops

will not be protected from insects. They say bees could be dying for

many reasons. Last summer was a dreadful summer. The bees were not

well fed, because it was raining every day. There are lots of other

things that might be impacting it, as well as this. It is not proven

that it is that insecticide that is the problem.

Staying outdoors, should gardening be taught in schools? It's just one

of many proposals being set out in a new national curriculum. From

growing fruit and veg to tending to flowerbeds, the idea would be to

teach all schoolkids where food comes from. Joe has been to a school

in Stockport that grows and eats veg all year round.

Lesson time, but for this class, you will not need ends and pencils, you

will need gardening forks and watering cans. At this school,

learning about celery and mushrooms is as normal as science and maths.

Kids here are regularly let loose on the school garden, and some have

become pardoning experts. The worms help the plants to grow. Snails eat

the plans. This is not the only school to give gardening lessons,

but some Bebo think every school in the country should teach kids how to

grow fruit and veg and ten to the garden as part of regular lessons.

Next year, the national curriculum, which teachers use to plan lessons,

is being changed. The government is proposing to make learning how to

grow and cook food a normal part of school. You are not the only school

that does this, but do you think it should be rolled out across the

country? Yes, but it would be nicer if schools wanted to do this because

they see the value, rather than doing it because they have to. These

kids think it is a great idea. I noticed that you are right in there

in the mucky duck and the result was crawling up your leg, but you don't

mind? I really don't mind. I like gardening, because you get a chance

to get out in the fresh air. This is one idea out of lots of changes the

government is considering bringing in next summer. By then, these guys

will already have produced and eaten a whole season's worth of delicious

school growing grub. So, do you think this is a good or

bad idea? Let us know on the website.

Next, the Netherlands is turning orange tomorrow. It's all because

the country is getting a new king. Orange fever sweeps the Netherlands

as the country gears up for tomorrow's celebrations. On Tuesday,

Queen Beatrix will step down from being head of the royal family after

33 years on the throne. Her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, will become

king. He will be the country's first king for more than 100 years. His

coronation takes place on Queen's Day, one of the biggest and most

colourful festivals in the Netherlands. Orange is the official

colour of the Royal Dutch family, and it is not hard to get your hands

on some rather fetching memorabilia. Orange and black everywhere. How

does that look? Queen Beatrix, who recently turned 75, said it was time

for her to lay down her crown. This kind of thing isn't unusual in the

Netherlands. Both her mother and grandmother also chose to abdicate.

But it's a very different story here. The last time a member of the

British royal family resigned was almost 80 years ago. King Edward

VIII's decision to step down from the throne left the country in

crisis. The mood back then was somewhat different to the feelgood

vibe on the streets of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.

So tomorrow morning, a sea of orange will make its way through the

capital as the King is crowned. Finally, it's well known that pet

cats like playing in boxes, but what about big cats such as tigers and

leopards? An animal sanctuary in Florida decided to find out. They