*Raise awareness in your local community

Review the outline suggestions on Pages 23-25 of ‘Businesses: actions to help pollinators’ guidelines (Action 24 & 25) to encourage local communities to engage further with nature, including by sponsoring pollinator-friendly projects.

For a list of ‘Recommended sponsorship activities’ refer to the table on Page 24 of the Businesses: actions to help pollinators guidelines. 

Other organizations which may provide a suitable sponsorship structure include:

• • • Tidy Towns – now with a special ‘Pollinator Award’, judged by the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan which Tidy Towns groups can apply for. In 2024 submissions are by 5 June, so consider committing sponsorship in advance i.e. between October-April to allow for development and planting. Include consideration of ‘thematic’ places for pollinators.
    • GAA Green Clubs Toolkit – the National Biodiversity Data Centre and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan collaborated with the GAA on the biodiversity section.
    • Direct local schools to the Biodiversity in Schools Pollinator Project.
    • ChangeX.org – the social innovation platform which brings together community groups and sponsors in a simple, project-ready format.

When sponsoring pollinator projects, make sure your business:

1. 1. • Only sponsors specific, AIPP evidence-based actions N.B. Sponsoring/gifting either wildflower seed mixes/seed ball type products or honey bee hives are NOT biodiversity actions.
      • Always retain existing biodiversity areas e.g., Avoid removing a meadow to sponsor the planting of native trees.
      • Ensures ongoing pollinator-friendly management of habitats is considered.
      • Requires the group to map their sponsored actions on Actions for Pollinators (GIS).

Direct local communities to specific AIPP evidence-based guidelines:

        

       

Ecological/wildlife corridors

Review the outline suggestions at Action 25 on Page 25 of ‘Businesses: actions to help pollinators’ guidelines to develop ecological/ wildlife corridors in your local area

As you review opportunities to create ecological corridors, consider making contact with the Biodiversity Officer in your area. Use Actions for Pollinators (GIS) to identify other pollinator-friendly sites in your area. Check out too the ecological corridors already in development across the country here.

Activities might include:

• • • Collaborating with other businesses in your business/industrial park to create areas of interconnected habitat through reduced mowing and pollinator-friendly planting. Or, where relevant, agreeing a common management strategy for Grounds Maintenance staff, Landscape/Facilities Management Contractors or Asset Managers.
    • Working with farmer neighbours adjacent to your business site to deliver evidence-based actions such as interconnected native hedgerows.
    • Connecting with others in the community to create a network of interconnected ecological corridors e.g., other businesses, local community groups, schools, faith communities, sports clubs, golf courses etc.