Q4 October-December: 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 Q4 October-December aligned to the Checklist on Pages 34-35 of Businesses: actions to help pollinators.

*October

  1. Plant spring flowering bulbs selected from the AIPP’s Top Ten pollinator-friendly plants for different situations (Action 12).
  2. Plant pollinator-friendly trees from seed (Rowan, Hawthorn, Elder) bearing in mind ‘Right Tree, Right Place, Right Space’ (Action 8). N.B. Whilst it doesn’t directly support pollinators, Oak is an incredibly important tree for biodiversity.
  3. Retain Ivy on your business site – an important food source for all sorts of pollinators (Action 2).
  4. Invite colleagues and the marketing department to sign up to the AIPP business supporters newsletter.
  5. Invite colleagues to study free courses through Ireland’s Biodiversity Learning Platform (Action 26).

*November

  1. Plant/restore a native hedgerow(Action 7) between November and February. Refer to the How-to-guide Native hedgerows for pollinators.
  2. Plant a small orchard of 5-bare-root-Heritage-fruit trees (Action 13) or bulbs (Action 12) or perennials (Action 11) from the AIPP’s Top Ten pollinator-friendly plants for different situations.
  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. Invite colleagues to study free courses through Ireland’s Biodiversity Learning Platform (Action 26).
  5. Submit queen bumblebee sightings through the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s recording platform.

*December

  1. Plant/restore a native hedgerow(Action 7) between November and February. Refer to the How-to-guide Native hedgerows for pollinators.
  2. Take willow cuttings and plant in a pot for transplanting next autumn (Action 7).
  3. GIFTING – remember gifting wildflower seed mix packets or seed ball type products is NOT an evidence-based biodiversity action. Instead choose, bulbs herb packets, perennials such as heathers or sunflower seeds selected from the AIPP’s Top Ten pollinator-friendly plants for different situations (Action 32).
  4. Invite colleagues to study free courses through Ireland’s Biodiversity Learning Platform (Action 26).
  5. Consider sponsorship (Action 24) for next year as part of an ecological corridor, through your local Tidy Towns (Pollinator Award), GAA (Green Clubs Toolkit-Biodiversity), community centre, faith community, school (Biodiversity in Schools) or Residents’ association or farmer neighbour. Tap into networks such as Grow it Yourself, Community Gardens, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.

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