🐝Pollinator of the week: Orange-legged Furrow Bee
🌼Plant of the week: Meadow buttercup
✅Action of the week: Get ready for No Mow May

Find out more about pollinators in April➡️ tinyurl.com/sm5yewuc

It's nearly #NoMowMay . Time to put away the lawnmower for a whole month & let native Irish wildflowers grow

But mowing less all summer is one of the best things you can do for pollinators. So why not try #LetItBloomJune & #HelpThemFlyJuly ?

More here➡️ tinyurl.com/36u9bjxz

What’s really in your 'wildflower' seed mix?

A new study by Noeleen of University College Dublin reveals only 25% of species in 7 common wildflower seed mixes are native to Ireland.

None of the packets gave details of where the seed was sourced

More here ➡️
tinyurl.com/42xu4jzf

Q: Would you recommend honeybee hives for our business site?
A: Please consider an *evidence-based action* e.g. reduced mowing & lift cuttings instead tinyurl.com/2d3zps9m
Honey bee hives = wonderful hobby but NOT a biodiversity action tinyurl.com/mr2b4vxt Biodiversity Ireland

Dandelions are a valuable source of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

The simple action of leaving some Dandelions to flower and set seed around the farm can help pollinators.

Record your sightings ⬇️
bit.ly/4a4dSRD

#farmlandbiodiversity

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

A nice surprise on saturday was finding Andrena rosae at another Irish site, also in Co. Carlow. Two females were found, one was a dark specimen, the other was more typical-looking. The 'redder' female was busily foraging on Hawthorn and wasn't in the mood for being photographed!

Help restore native meadows by reducing mowing to just once a month

You don't need a big garden. You don't need to buy wildflower seed mixes. Real, native wildflowers are already in the soil, waiting for a chance to grow 🐝

More here➡️ tinyurl.com/mr36mz25

#EarthDay

🐝Pollinator of the week: Common snout hoverfly
🌼Plant of the week: Bluebell
✅ Action of the week: Do a Flower-Insect-Timed Count

Find out more about pollinators in April: tinyurl.com/sm5yewuc

The Common Bluebell is one of our best-loved native wildflowers

Our Farmland Officer tells us more about these beautiful plants, 'nectar-robbing' bees, and why they're under threat from the imported Spanish bluebell

pollinators.ie/its-bluebell-s…

The Common Bluebell is one of our best-loved native wildflowers

Our Farmland Officer tells us more about these beautiful plants, 'nectar-robbing' bees, and why they're under threat from the imported Spanish bluebell

pollinators.ie/its-bluebell-s…

Q: How do we find out what’s happening for pollinators-biodiversity adjacent to our business site?
A: Contact your local Biodiversity Officer tinyurl.com/4f8yce4p & see Actions for Pollinators tinyurl.com/382e5tdk & Action for Biodiversity tinyurl.com/2n5mx2k7

Wild cherry has almost white flowers in the spring and later cherries will hang from the branches.

Include as a tree in a species-rich hedgerow or as a tree in a non-farmed area or field corner.

Find out more
bit.ly/3TZxorU

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
Dept of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A small cuckoo bee, probably our most common Nomad bee in Ireland.

It uses the nests of other solitary bees, like the Chocolate 🍫 mining bee, as a host species.

Record sightings ⬇️

bit.ly/4a4dSRD

Find out more ⬇️

bit.ly/4cSXmFN

#farmlandbiodiversity

📆Join us in Antrim next Tues 23rd to find out how to help pollinators in your community

Tickets are free but booking is essential!

Book your space here➡️ tinyurl.com/cncbpn4e

🌼 Embrace the humble dandelion, let them bee! 🐝Did you know? In 2023, records revealed dandelions as the top choice for Ireland's wild bees 🍯 Let these overlooked blooms bloom and nourish precious pollinators ☀️ All-Ireland Pollinator Plan #LetDandelionsBee

🐝Pollinator of the week: Mountain bumblebee
🌼Plant of the week: Bilberry
✅Action of the week: Learn about upland pollinators

Our Farmland Officer tells us more about pollinators 'living the high life' in our mountains & uplands
➡️tinyurl.com/86mtjky5

April newsletter highlights

🐝 Threats to our native bluebell
🐝 Spot the Tawny mining bee
🐝 Favourite food plants for wild bees
🐝 Pollinator-friendly mowing tips for April

Read more here tinyurl.com/4vstt46s

Sign up here bit.ly/3DXaolY

(📷 Ruth Wilson)

Q: How do we ensure the planting is pollinator-friendly on our business site?
A: Review ‘Top Ten guide pollinator-friendly plants for different situations’ tinyurl.com/mryrvzxr
and ‘thematic’ places for pollinators. tinyurl.com/4ustw2d5 Biodiversity Ireland

#LetDandelionsBee

Become a citizen scientist & help us learn more about pollinators with a Flower-Insect-Timed count

No expertise needed - all you need is a spare 10 minutes, a comfy spot, and a patch of Dandelions 🐝

There's even a free app💚

Find out more here➡️ tinyurl.com/56zxchb6