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Grey Mining Bee (Andrena cineraria) © Lill Dunne   Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Senior Ecologist at the National Biodiversity Data Centre and co-founder of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, introduces the amazing, little-known world of our solitary bees. Have you ever heard … Continued

Ireland’s pollinating insects are under threat, with one-third of our 98 wild bee species at risk of extinction. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan aims to reverse these declines and has identified 42 specific evidence-based actions to make public land, farmland, and … Continued

When we published the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan at the end of 2015, I didn’t envisage businesses playing a big role in helping. I couldn’t have been more wrong! It seems like every time I quote the number of business supporters, … Continued

50 years ago, our farms were pollinator havens. Extensive hedgerows flowered in spring and hay meadows in summer; and well-fed pollinators buzzed around, free from chemicals. Times change and things move on, but sometimes hidden within progress there can be … Continued

I think if our wild bees could talk, the two things they would ask us to do is to let our hedgerows flower and to let more grassy areas bloom. If we did this across the island it would provide … Continued

In 2020, SuperValu became a major partner to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan by funding the Project Officer position. In doing so, they are supporting our ongoing work with communities, councils, gardeners and schools. With this support, we have been able … Continued

Green-winged Orchid (Anacamptis morio), a rare wildflower species has recently appeared on a grassy verge in a Portlaoise housing estate, which is usually mown regularly.    Does the national lockdown have any silver linings? Well, one was seeing the motorway verges … Continued

These are very difficult times as we all come together to fight Covid-19 by staying apart. The most important thing is to help each other and to stay at home.  Given the current situation, we have had requests for biodiversity-related ways … Continued

Dr Úna FitzPatrick explains how you can help to monitor our bee populations and test the impact of your actions for pollinators. One third of Ireland’s 98 wild bees are threatened with extinction and our common bumblebees continue to show … Continued