Untidy gardens and green spaces are vital to save Ireland's bees from extinction, experts say

Around one-third of Ireland’s bee species face high risk of extinction due to habitat loss and a shortage of flowering plants. Monitoring data from citizen scientists shows that five of Ireland’s eight most common bumblebee species are declining. Bees and other pollinators support food production, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. Declines have been steady and in some cases accelerating. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan aims to increase food and safe nesting habitat by mowing less, allowing native wildflowers to grow, protecting and planting native trees and hedgerows, eliminating pesticides, and choosing pollinator-friendly ornamental plants in managed settings. Less tidying in gardens is presented as an effective starting action.

"Around one-third of Ireland’s 100 or so species of bees are at high risk of extinction, largely due to habitat loss and a shortage of flowering plants. Recent monitoring data paints a similarly worrying picture. Citizen scientists involved in the All-Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme have recorded that five of Ireland's eight most common bumblebee species are now in decline, underlining concerns about the long-term health of pollinator populations."

"Bees and other pollinators play a central role in food production, biodiversity and ecosystem health. Yet their decline has been steady, and in some cases accelerating. For those working in conservation, the trajectory is clear. “We’ve dramatically reduced the amount of food and safe nesting habitat available for bees,” said Dr Úna FitzPatrick, chief scientific officer at the National Biodiversity Data Centre."

"The plan is one of the first of its kind in Europe, bringing together different sectors to encourage everyone to mow less to help native wildflowers grow; protect and plant native trees and hedgerows; eliminate pesticides; and choose pollinator-friendly ornamental plants in managed settings such as gardens. “It’s just often about doing a little bit less, letting things grow, not cutting the hedge so often,” Dr FitzPatrick said."

Read at Irish Independent