Below are suggested actions you might plan for in Q2 April-June aligned to the Checklist on Pages 34-35 of Businesses: actions to help pollinators.

*April

1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, to ‘Let Dandelions Bee’ by implementing reduced mowing and lift cuttings (Action 5, 6 & 23).
2. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, to maintain native hedgerows in a pollinator-friendly manner (Action 7 & 23).
3. No physical footprint? Sponsor (Action 24) a Car park for pollinators within your local Tidy Towns as a part of an ecological corridor. Or consider sponsoring ‘Thematic Place for pollinators’ – a sensory, herb, rain, moon planter or garden in your local community, school, sports/GAA club or faith community.
4. Prepare your Biodiversity Champion(s), Green Team and employees for monitoring with the free online bumblebee course and START ‘Friday FIT Counts’ on site Flower Insect Timed Counts (Action 22) – entry level/no experience necessary. 

Marketing & Communication Actions

5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).

• Engage with April’s ‘Let Dandelions Bee’ and promote ‘Friday FIT Counts’ on site (Flower Insect Timed Counts). Follow AIPP on X @pollinatorplan /Instagram @allirelandpollinatorplan (Action 27).
• Issue the AIPP monthly newsletter to employees and suppliers (Action 23 & 26).
• Plan a pollinator-biodiversity employee volunteer day aligned to your sponsorship (Action 26).

RELEVANT COMPANION RESOURCES FOR APRIL

• Review How-to-guide Creating and restoring meadows in local communities (business sites) and gardens and How-to-guide Hedgerows for pollinators N.B. Retain Bramble, Ivy and Nettles.
• REMEMBER: Avoid wildflower seed mixes and choose reduced mowing and lift cuttings instead.
• Gifting to employees? Avoid wildflower seed packets/ seed ball type products, and instead choose herbs, heathers, sunflower seeds, pollinator-friendly bulbs and perennials from the Top Ten guide. You can also download the free, print-ready bumblebee poster and bookmark, or buy the bumblebee swatch.

*May

1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, to participate in ‘No Mow May’ and implement reduced mowing and lift cuttings (Action 5, 6 & 23).
2. Create on site ‘Thematic Place for pollinators’ – a sensory, herb, rain, or moon garden /pots/ planters (Actions 9-13).
3. Implement a site-wide Pesticide-Free Policy. N.B. Continue to spot-spray invasive species.
4. Provide Local Community sponsorship, as a part of an ecological corridor, through Tidy Towns (now with a Pollinator Award judged by AIPP), GAA Green Clubs (Toolkit), Biodiversity in Schools or your local

Marketing & Communication Actions

5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).

• • Engage with ‘No Mow May’, celebrate ‘World Bee Day’ (20 May).
  • Continue promoting ‘Friday FIT Counts’ (Flower Insect Timed Counts) on site. Follow the AIPP on X @pollinatorplan and Instagram @allirelandpollinatorplan (Action 27).
  • Issue the AIPP monthly newsletter to employees and suppliers (Action 23 & 26).
  • Plan a pollinator-biodiversity supplier day including an AIPP webinar (Action 23).

RELEVANT COMPANION RESOURCES FOR MAY

• • Review How-to-guide Creating and restoring meadows in local communities (business sites) and gardens
  • Review AIPP’s Top Ten pollinator-friendly plants for different situations and guideline resources.
  • Review How-to-guide Hedgerows for pollinators N.B. Retain Bramble, Ivy and Nettles.
  • Review Pesticide alternatives: a summary » All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.
  • REMEMBER: Avoid wildflower seed mixes and choose reduced mowing and lift cuttings instead.
  • Gifting to employees? Avoid wildflower seed packets/ seed ball type products, and instead choose herbs, heathers, sunflower seeds, pollinator-friendly bulbs and perennials from the Top Ten guide. You can also download the free, print-ready bumblebee poster and bookmark, or buy the bumblebee swatch. 

*June

1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, to ‘Let them Bloom June’ and implement reduced mowing and lift cuttings (Action 5, 6 & 23) from ~15 April-end September. 
2. Create on site ‘Thematic Place for pollinators’ – a sensory, herb, rain, or moon garden / pots / planters (Actions 9-13).
3. Designate nesting habitat within 200m of flowers for bumblebees and solitary bees (tussocky grass at base of a native hedgerow, south facing earth bank, log piles, dry-stone wall).
4. Provide sponsorship, as a part of an ecological corridor, to a farmer neighbour or through Grow it Yourself, Community Gardens, or via a local faith community or Residents’ association.

Marketing & Communication Actions

5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).

• Engage with ‘Let them Bloom June’ and promote ‘Friday FIT Counts’ on site (Flower Insect Timed Counts).
• Follow the AIPP on X @pollinatorplan and Instagram @allirelandpollinatorplan (Action 27).
• Issue the AIPP monthly newsletter to employees and suppliers (Action 23 & 26).
• Plan a pollinator-biodiversity local community day including an AIPP webinar (Action 23).

RELEVANT COMPANION RESOURCES FOR JUNE

• Refer to actions in ‘Businesses: actions to help pollinators’ Checklist Page 34-35. 
• Review How-to-guide Creating and restoring meadows in local communities (business sites) and gardens
• Review AIPP’s Top Ten pollinator-friendly plants for different situations and thematic guideline resources.
• Review How-to-guide Creating wild pollinator nesting habitat
• Gifting to employees? Avoid wildflower seed packets/ seed ball type products, and instead choose herbs, heathers, sunflower seeds, pollinator-friendly bulbs and perennials from the Top Ten guide. You can also download the free, print-ready bumblebee poster and bookmark, or buy the bumblebee swatch.