No, we're not making it up, there is such a thing as a Chocolate Mining Bee. 🐝🍫

One of Ireland's 80 solitary bees celebrated on our new free poster.

Find out more about this overlooked group of bees and download the poster here:
bit.ly/3FiAd1x

The latest data from the Biodiversity Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme shows the Large Carder bee in serious decline biodiversityireland.ie/surveys/bumble… All the more reason for Local Communities to get behind this AIPP document!

Orchards are fantastic habitats for pollinators, and not just in the countryside. Here's a guest blog by Monaghan Tidy Towns on their inspiring 'Dispersed Urban Orchards' project with Monaghan County Council
bit.ly/3TgMk2X

Q: Are bee bombs a suitable ‘seasonal business gift’ for staff/customers?
A: Please choose an alternative to bee bombs/ wildflower seed packets as they may contain non-native seed and potentially invasives such as Black Grass. bit.ly/3s1xvFI Biodiversity Ireland

If you're thinking of adding a native pollinator friendly tree to your garden, park or farm this winter, you can check its source.

Ask for a Certificate of Irish origin or Irish provenance (grown in Ireland from seed collected in Ireland).

They're best for our 🌸🌳🐝🪰🦋🐦

Hawthorn can be a beautiful pollinator-friendly tree on the farm, reaching a height of 15m.

The flowers are scented and once pollinated, they develop into deep-red fruits known as 'haws'.

Bare root plants will be available from November to early April.

Most wild bees might be hibernating already, but there are still actions you can take in your garden to help pollinators in autumn and winter pollinators.ie/gardens/

The Ivy Bee was spotted at Brittas Bay yesterday - can anyone find a more northerly location? Time is running out to search for this one as it'll soon be hibernating pollinators.ie/record-pollina… Biodiversity Ireland

When a hungry bumblebee queen emerges from hibernation in early spring, she can struggle to find food. Crocus, Grape hyacinth & Allium all help provide her with pollen & nectar in gardens.

Now's the time to plant these bulbs - pollinators will thank you next year! (📸Paul Green)

The Ivy Bee has been spotted in Co Wicklow for the first time! If you're on the Wicklow coast - please keep an eye out and let us know if you spot it. We'll need a photograph for validation Biodiversity Ireland

Q: What three words should our business consider now re: food for wild bees?
A: Ivy Bulbs Seeds. Retain Ivy, bee food pre-hibernation. Plant Crocus/Grape Hyacinth bulbs, food for early Bumblebees. Plan #DontMowLetItGrow 2023 regime rather than sow non-native seeds. Biodiversity Ireland

Have you heard of a Munster Tulip or a Ballyvaughan Seedling? Or what about a Leitrim Red or a Sheep's Snout?

Check out our latest blog on Traditional #orchards to find out more.

#farmlandbiodiversity

pollinators.ie/are-you-thinki…

If you want to change your perspective about #bees look at this poster & read this article bit.ly/3Medx3A by All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

It’s about the little known/noticed solitary bees, crucial pollinators as their social cousins
80 species in Ireland only!

That’s #biodiversity !

We have a new free solitary bee poster for you!

Often overlooked but vitally important pollinators, they also have some of the coolest names in the bee world (Dark-winged Blood Bee anyone?)

Find out more here: bit.ly/3Medx3A

(Thank you Steven Falk for the images)

Our October newsletter is here, with the all the latest on one of Ireland's newest bees, a brand-new free poster, the results of An Taisce's Green Flag Pollinator Award for parks, & tips on creating a traditional orchard...
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