Biodiversity in the garden is very important. We need pollinators to grow many of the fruits and vegetables we eat. The wildflowers that provide us with color and beauty in our landscape also need pollinators, as do many garden plants. Most pollination in Ireland is carried out by bees and other insects like hoverflies, butterflies and moths. Unfortunately, pollinators are in trouble. We know that one third of Irish bee species are threatened with extinction. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 is an island-wide attempt to help pollinators by creating a landscape where they can survive and thrive. All of us have a role to play in the Pollinator Plan, and gardens of any size can make a big difference. These guidelines are aimed at anyone that wants to make their outdoor space more pollinator friendly.
For gardens to be good for pollinators, they need to provide food in the form of flowers, shelter for nesting and safety from chemicals.
- Leave a strip of grass at the edge of a wall or fence, this will provide food and shelter for pollinators.
- Use weed killer sparingly, areas out of sight at the back of the sheds or up behind the trees should not be sprayed, if you must strim or cut back, do it late in the year.
- Manual weeding instead of using chemicals.
- Flowering hedgerows around your home are a good source of pollen and nectar.
- Plant Bee friendly plants that flower from Spring-Autumn this gives a continuous supply throughout the time when bees are actively foraging.
- Don’t use herbicide on the verges outside your house. If left alone, road verges can provide important areas for pollinators to feed and nest.
More people are starting to understand how important pollinators are and what we can do to help them, but we need to keep spreading the word, especially to the next generation.
Ramor Landscaping can be contacted on 087-2427399 / 049 8543044 (David Skelly)
