What can we do to help the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan?

A few practical ways to support the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan:

1. Leave an area of grass (or strips of grass) which may grow long until the end of the summer. Dandelions, daisies, clover etc. will grow and provide food for the bees. It will not wreck your garden! It’s tough to cut at the end of the season but it’s the only hardship. You might be rewarded with orchids, which are a great treat. 

2. If you mow the roadside grass outside your house, reduce the frequency of the mowing. Short grass looks neat but doesn’t provide any food for bees. Consider just two cuts in the year.

3. Plant a shrub that flowers in early spring. It will look cheerful and will be a vital source of food for the bees. Here's a bee busy feeding today on heather in the garden.

4. Throughout the year have some flowers which provide pollen for the bees and pleasure for you. They could be in flowerbeds or in pots. Some, like spring bulbs, can be naturalised under deciduous trees. These should be single flowers as bees can’t get into double flowers. Vegetables and fruit are a great addition; even some pots of herbs are very good.