All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Shows How We Can All Help to Save Our Bees

Posted on: 13 July 2016

Unfortunately, Irish pollinators are in decline, with one third of our 98 bee species threatened with extinction. But, last September, Ireland joined a small number of countries in Europe that have developed a strategy to address pollinator decline and protect pollination services. More than 68 governmental and non-governmental organisations have agreed the shared Plan, which identifies 81 actions to make Ireland pollinator-friendly. It involves everyone from farmers, to councils, local communities and businesses doing their bit.

Today we can all start to help — we can make our gardens pollinator-friendly by implementing some of the 20 actions described here.

“If you’re a pollinator, finding enough food is the biggest challenge you have to face,” said Dr Úna FitzPatrick from the National Biodiversity Data Centre, who chaired the Plan Steering Group. "Gardens can play a crucial role by acting as pit stops for busy bees as they try to move around the landscape.”

Habitat loss and declines in wildflowers are subjecting our pollinators to starvation. Our tendency to tidy up the landscape rather than allowing wildflowers to grow along roadsides, field margins, and in parks is also playing a big part in fewer of these resources being available. By making your garden pollinator-friendly you can do your bit to help redress the balance and make sure that pollinators are protected.

By taking simple actions, your garden can become a place where honeybees, bumblebees and solitary bees can find food. Some solitary bees might even make their tiny little nests there. The most important thing you can do in your garden is to ensure you have some bee friendly flowers in bloom from March to October. 

“Comfrey, Lungwort, Lavender, Catmint, and Heather are all great food sources for bees,” said Dr Erin Jo Tiedeken, who is the project officer for the All-Ireland Plan, and who formerly worked in Trinity with Professor of Botany, Jane Stout, who also had an important role in the guidelines described in the All-Ireland Plan.

Cutting your lawn slightly less often to allow wildflowers like dandelions and clovers to grow is another simple, low-cost action you can take. It’s also important not to use pesticides that are harmful to pollinators.

The guidelines show exactly what a pollinator-friendly garden looks like, and even describe how to make your garden “gold standard” for pollinators.

The suggested actions are based on scientific research, and are the measures that are most likely to benefit Irish pollinators. A range of actions are listed, in order to suit gardens of any size. Whether a garden has just a few window boxes or is a large community allotment, if it contains pollinator friendly flowers it can provide food for hungry bees.

If you grow strawberries, raspberries, beans, courgettes, or tomatoes you’ll know first-hand how important it is that pollinators visit your garden. Without enough bees visiting the flowers, you see reduced yields or misshapen fruit and vegetables.

The implementation of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is being coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre with funding provided by The Heritage Council and Bord Bia.