We invite business supporters to follow the specific AIPP evidence-based ‘Businesses: actions to help pollinators’ (Checklist Pages 34-35) and use the companion resources to help in decision-making.

‘Businesses: actions to help pollinators’  is aligned to ISO14001 (2026 update to follow) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) numbers 15 and 13.

COMPANION RESOURCES

The following will help inform decisions on Physical Actions (A-E) highlighted in Businesses: actions to help pollinators.

A – Protect what you have

Protect/enhance what is great already. Consider managing an existing native hedgerow or an existing native meadow area to support pollinators.

Don’t get rid of an existing meadow to plant trees. Remember native hedgerows are also a carbon storage mechanism.

    

It is not necessarily about ‘rewilding’ but about managing and maintaining in a pollinator-friendly manner. Consider protecting Pockets of Nature.

B – Mow less in grassy areas (and lift the cuttings)

   

• Reduce mowing, AND lift the cuttings to allow native flowers to appear naturally – a vital food source for wild bees and many other pollinators.
• Remember – sowing wildflower seed mixes to create a (mini) meadow is NOT a biodiversity action. Non-native wildflower seed mixes may contain invasive species such as Black Grass, potentially devastating for our agricultural sector. Native mixes may have a high percentage of annuals which you will need to re-sow next year! INSTEAD reduce mowing / lift cuttings.

• Include SIGNAGE (free, downloadable, print-ready) and a mown perimeter strip to indicate biodiversity management on your site. NOTE: The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a voluntary plan of action. The management of any site for pollinators is ultimately the responsibility of the landowner. Any signage installed and actions taken must be done so with permission from the landowner and consultation with any necessary parties.
• ‘Let it Bee’ or ‘Meadow in Progress’ signage is also available which you can edit to include your business logo, website URL, or QR code.

C – Pollinator-friendly planting (native and ornamental)

        

D – Provide nesting habitats

Long, tussocky grass at the base of a native hedgerow (bumblebees), a south facing earth bank (for solitary mining bees) and an old stone wall (cavity nesting solitary bees) are all excellent places for our pollinators to find shelter/nesting sites.

REMEMBER To have honeybee hives or an apiary is NOT a biodiversity action. The honeybee is a managed pollinator and not under threat.

To increase numbers may create competition for food for our wild bees.

An apiary is absolutely fine if part of your core business, and is a wonderful hobby.

If you are considering installing honeybee hives? PLEASE SEEK EXPERT ADVICE from your local beekeeping association.

E – Reduce/eliminate use of pesticides

• Review alternatives to pesticides.
• You will still need to spot-spray invasive species. Review advice at  

Communication & Governance Actions

We encourage businesses to deliver communication actions based on what is helpful for our 100+ wild bees.

• Discover how to raise awareness in your value chain.
• Consider joining affiliate conservation projects such as Ponds for Biodiversity.

Sponsorship

• Review the Recommended sponsorship activities (Page 24) of Businesses: actions to help pollinators and review ideas on how to sponsor an evidence-based pollinator-friendly action here.

Procurement/tendering

• Consider if what you are buying in terms of products and management services is pollinator-friendly with the Procurement table on Page 29 of Businesses: actions to help pollinators
• Also considering including the AIPP as part of the ‘Award Criteria’ for any tenders.

Mapping, Tracking & Measuring

• Discover how to map, track and measure pollinators-biodiversity on your business site here.