Page 53 - Council Journal Winter 2019

development of wildflowers and continues to encourage pollinators contributing to the continuing biodiversity of our city.”
there are no flowers growing there. Some people would call them weeds, the bee doesn’t mind a weed ... it is a flower with pollen and nectar as far as the bee is concerned."
FEATURE Pollination Plan She says that other options include
Bridging the Disconnect
"The pollen plan is voluntary, not enforced - but really people are getting behind it - what it needs is just more funding," she says.
While maintenance is important and necessary, she says, wild flowers do not have to be cleaned out
Changing the mowing regime in a garden is the most cost-effective action that can be and has been taken on by people, she said.
"The Department of Agriculture provides €15,000 each year to help develop resources, but that’s all the funding it has.
"So anyone who has any responsibility for any piece of land, from the biggest farm to the smallest window box, we can all play a role in helping bees.
As well as that, 14,000 farmers have been provided with 25,000 sand habitats for bees under the Department of Agriculture’s agri- environment scheme, GLAS. However, Dr Fitzpatrick said that more funding from the Government is needed to address the problem.
"So it’s about looking at your land, your garden, your school, your park whatever it happens to be and ask ’Could I plant things in there? Could I cut the grass less often?’"
Countryside Management Specialist with Teagasc Catherine Keena said she believes there is a huge disconnect between people wanting Ireland’s bee population to survive, and knowing that in order to do so, wild flowers are needed.
Icompletely. shortening on grass. It looks like a golf "I mean we are in a really winning
Council Journal 53
"We’re a bit obsessed in our gardens, parks and public lands, with
situation with it, we have so much interest out there. We just can’t capitalise on that because we don’t particularly have the human resources to actually do it."
buying plants that are good sources of pollen and nectar.
Galway City Council said that it is “proactive on these issues through the implementation of its Biodiversity Plan adopted in 2014, existing departmental strategies and plans and through new initiatives like the Health Green Spaces which is linked to the National Pollinator Plan”.
This is echoed by Dr Fitzpatrick, who says bees need food, shelter and safety.
An initiative has been launched by the Government to encourage forest owners to introduce beehives to their native woodlands in a bid to preserve and protect bees.
"Our message would be think before you tidy when it comes to habitats," Ms Keena says, "I’m talking about simple places like margins alongside hedges and roads.
course sometimes.
"That’s a desert for bees. So really
"Keeping lawns clean means that
it's just about moving away from that, so it’s okay to have dandelions in the grass, it’s okay to let clover flower in perhaps May or June."
Irish Seed Savers and Food Conservation & Biodiversity
rish Seed Savers have been supplying seeds and fruit trees to individuals, community groups and tidy towns for many years.
their environment, growing heritage, organic and open pollinated varieties is key for a sustainable future.
Originating in 1991 as an ambitious effort to create a central store of seeds and fruit trees where none had previously existed, their work to date has been to protect rare and heritage open pollinated food seeds and native and heritage fruit trees.
Get involved to support Irish Seed Savers goal to protect Ireland’s food crop heritage for now and future generations by bringing a unique part of our natural heritage to your home and communities.
Curating the country’s living seed bank of 600 varieties of heritage seed, and the country’s national heritage collection of over 170 varieties of apple trees, Irish Seed Savers’ work includes an education and outreach remit to ensure the protection of these collections for the future by teaching and encouraging others to grow these seeds and fruit trees in their own gardens, farms and communities.
For more information visit www. irishseedsavers.ie email: info@ irishseedsavers.ie call: 061-921866
With the growing focus on climate action, reducing carbon footprint, and protecting our rich biodiversity, for those seeking to encourage sustainability and biodiversity within