You don’t even need a garden to help our struggling pollinators! By planting up a ‘pot for pollinators’ for your patio or balcony (or a window box), with pollen-rich flowers, you will provide much-needed food for our pollinating insects. Galway County Council, in partnership with a number of Tidy Towns groups in county Galway and the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, have launched a new initiative called Pots for Pollinators.
One-third of our bee species are threatened with extinction from Ireland. This is because we have drastically reduced the amount of food (flowers) and safe nesting sites in our landscapes. Pots for Pollinators is an initiative where local communities working with a Tidy Towns Group can take a very simple action for bees and other pollinators and generate a very positive impact for nature.
Mary McGann, Galway County Council, said “We are delighted to partner with a number of Tidy Towns Groups and the National Biodiversity Data Centre on this very important initiative, given that bees and other pollinating insects such as butterflies are in trouble. I would like to encourage as many people as possible to take part in this initiative. Every pollinator pot will be a haven for hungry pollinators and is a way for all of us to do our bit for biodiversity.”
“People are becoming more conscious of nature and biodiversity and taking a great interest in the birds, bees and bugs that are all around them. It is hoped that this simple project Pots for Pollinators which gives details of plants that can be bought in any garden centre in the county will see lots more people helping our pollinators,” said Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council.
Dr Úna FitzPatrick, Project Manager, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan said “Changing the fate of our declining wild bees requires all of us to help. We are delighted that this flyer has been published to show how people can make a positive difference – even in areas with limited outdoor space. Planting a ‘pot for pollinators’ is a wonderful project for patios in nursing homes or hospitals, apartment balconies, urban hotels and small gardens.”
If you are interested in getting involved in the Pots for Pollinators initiative please email [email protected] and see website https://heritage.galwaycommunityheritage.org/content/topics/biodiversity-and-pollinators/pots-for-pollinators-2
Thanks to Aga Grandowicz for illustration and design.
Thanks to the photographers who kindly donated photographs for use in this flyer:
Crocus, Grape Hyacinth, Dahlia, Chives, Rosemary, Thyme: © Jane Powers
Agastache © Seán Keane
Nepeta © Shutterstock
Liatris © H.Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0