All-Ireland Pollinator Plan: January 2024 newsletter
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| Newsletter: January 2024 The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a framework bringing together different sectors across the island of Ireland to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive. Its implementation is coordinated by the National Biodiversity Data Centre. |
| To spot this month: keep an eye out for winter bumblebees January is still a quiet month for sightings. The normal lifecycle of most Irish bumblebees ends when the workers and males die off and the newly mated queens hibernate through the cold winter months. However, in recent years, the Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) has been seen foraging during winter months in both Ireland and in southern Britain. It is not known whether these bumblebees are able to successfully breed in winter. You can help improve our understanding by letting us know if you spot winter-active bumblebee workers. Photo: Ciaran Taylor |
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| To do this month: consider planting a new hedgerow Planting a diverse native hedgerow and managing it for biodiversity is one of the best actions you can take to help pollinators. The planting window is from November to February. Within the National Biodiversity Data Centre, we have published a short flyer on how to plant a new hedgerow. |
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| New illustration on the importance of hedgerows The National Biodiversity Data Centre and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan are delighted to release a new illustration on the importance of hedgerows. Hedgerows are important to both humans and biodiversity, providing food (such as blossom and berries), creating crucial wildlife corridors, storing carbon, and helping mitigate fertilizer run-off. |
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| Business Supporters – Annual Review 2023 We are delighted to publish this year’s ‘All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (2023): Business Supporters – Annual Review’. All business supporters were invited to submit a mandatory 250-word report PLUS map their evidence-based actions delivered on ‘Actions for Pollinators’ (GIS) – the biodiversity-accountability portal. We are thrilled with the evidence-based actions delivered by businesses this year. And, as ever, there is lots more to do. 316 businesses have responded on their actions for pollinators in 2023 and are featured in this report. |
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| No Mow May – can you help by sharing your experiences Do you take part in No Mow May? Even better, do you mow less all year round? As part of our 2024 No Mow May campaign, we’re inviting you to share your No Mow May story. What plants appeared? Did more pollinators visit as a result? Were you unsure about taking part? If so, what convinced you? We want to share some of your stories on our website and social media platforms later this year, to inspire others to mow less and join the buzz to save the bees. If you’d like to take part, please send your No Mow May story (and photos, if you have them), to kchandler@biodiversityireland.ie |
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