Q3 July-September: Top 5 monthly actions

*Review the general evidence-based AIPP pollinator-biodiversity actions which can be taken across the year (and those to avoid) HERE.

Below are suggested actions you might plan for in Q3 July-August aligned to the Checklist on Pages 34-35 of Businesses: actions to help pollinators.

*July

  1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers /Grounds Maintenance contractors, to ‘Let Them Fly July’ by implementing reduced mowing (Action 5, 6 & 23).
  2. Seek alternatives to pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. N.B. Continue to spot-spray invasives species (Action 17 & 18).
  3. Create ‘Thematic Place for pollinators’ – a sensory, herb, rain, or moon garden /pots/ planters (Actions 9-13).
  4. No physical footprint? Sponsor (Action 24) a Car park for pollinators within your local Tidy Towns as a part of an ecological corridor. Or ‘Thematic Place for pollinators’ – a sensory, herb, rain, moon planter or garden in your local community, school, sports/GAA club or faith community.
  5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).
    • Engage with ‘Help Them Fly July’ and continue to promote on site ‘Friday FIT Counts’ (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).
    • Identify Bee Orchids on site and submit their presence as a record to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

*August

  1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, to learn more about meadows ‘August seeds feed next year’s bees’ and continue to implement reduced mowing (Action 6 & 23) until end September. 
  2. Check if your bee hotel has been used. If not, then move it.
  3. Seek alternatives to pesticides, including herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. N.B. You will need to continue to spot-spray invasives species (Action 17 & 18).
  4. Begin planning for autumn/winter planting of a 5-tree orchard, native hedgerow, or native trees.
  5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).
    • Engage with ‘August’s seeds feed next year’s bees AND continue to promote on site ‘Friday FIT Counts’ (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).
    • Identify Bee Orchids on site and submit their presence as a record to the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

*September

  1. Instruct supplier contractors, including Facilities Managers, Landscapers and Grounds Maintenance contractors, that it’s ‘Time to mow your meadow’ (Action 5, 6 & 23) at the end of September. 
  2. Designate nesting habitat and hibernation sites 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).
  3. Retain Bramble and Ivy in the hedgerow. Bramble feeds bumblebee queens prior to hibernation, Ivy feeds hoverflies in the Autumn.
  4. Start to consider sponsorship for next year, 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.
  5. Align communication actions to monthly AIPP Key Campaigns and Messages 2025 (Action 27 & 28).
    • Engage with ‘Time to mow your meadow’ and promote on site ‘Friday FIT Counts’ (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 (Action 23).

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