It’s National Biodiversity Week in Ireland – a perfect time to celebrate and protect the wildlife that helps our environment thrive. One of the most important groups we can support is pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and other insects play a vital role in growing food and keeping our ecosystems healthy. But sadly, many pollinators are in decline.
Check out some of our Biodiversity Products to help you make a difference!
Here are 5 easy ways you can help pollinators this season:
1. Plant Pollinator-Friendly Flowers
Pollinators need nectar and pollen to survive. By planting wildflowers, herbs, and other native plants in your garden, balcony, or even a window box, you’re giving them food. In Ireland, some great choices include oxeye daisy, red clover, lavender, thyme, and foxglove. Try to plant a variety of flowers that bloom from spring to autumn. This helps pollinators find food all season long.
2. Let Your Lawn Grow
Short grass might look neat, but it’s not great for pollinators. Instead, let a section of your lawn grow wild. This allows dandelions, clover, and buttercups to bloom – all of which are rich in nectar. Even mowing less often, such as once every 4-6 weeks, can make a big difference. This simple step helps create a mini wildflower meadow in your own backyard.
3. Avoid Pesticides and Chemicals
Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides can harm pollinators, especially bees. If you must treat plants, try organic and pollinator-safe options. Avoid spraying during the day when insects are active. Better yet, try natural alternatives like companion planting, which uses certain plants to keep pests away without chemicals.
4. Create Safe Spaces to Nest
Pollinators need places to nest and rest. You can help by leaving undisturbed areas in your garden – like patches of bare soil, hollow stems, or old wood. You can also build or buy bee hotels, which give solitary bees a safe place to lay eggs. These are easy to set up and can be fun for kids to help build.
5. Spread the Word
The more people who help pollinators, the better. Talk to your friends, family, and neighbours about small changes they can make. Share tips online or join local biodiversity events during National Biodiversity Week. You can also support groups like the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which gives great advice for homes, schools, and businesses.
Conclusion
Helping pollinators doesn’t have to be hard. By planting the right flowers, mowing less, avoiding harmful sprays, making safe nesting spots, and spreading awareness, you’re giving bees and butterflies a better chance. These small actions add up and make a real difference.
This National Biodiversity Week, take time to protect Ireland’s pollinators. Nature will thank you – and so will future generations.
What we are doing for Biodiversity?
Biodiversity is a material topic to our business, here are a few biodiversity-focused farm programmes:
Pictured: Liam O’ Doherty, Mitchelstown, first year participant from Biodiversity Tree Plantation programme
-
Our Biodiversity Tree Plantation Programme, in partnership with Trees on the Land, has introduced over 170,000 native Irish trees in the past four years. To put this in perspective, a single oak tree can support up to 2,300 species, with 326 species depending on oak for survival1. Our goal is to plant half a million native Irish trees by 2030.
-
The River Blackwater Catchment Project, led by a team of six dedicated farm advisors, aims to improve freshwater quality in the river and its tributaries. This €60 million European Innovation Partnership (EIP) initiative involves collaboration with neighbouring Co-Ops and focuses on nutrient, farmyard, and land management. Combined with our Dairygold Sustainability Bonus Scheme, the project has already contributed to measurable improvements in water quality. In fact, the EPA recently reported a welcome reduction in nitrogen levels in Irish rivers, a mark in the right direction.
-
The Dairygold GreenGrow Soil Health Programme is a science-based initiative that helps farmers improve soil fertility and productivity. For less than €1 per acre per year, farmers can assess both the chemical and biological health of their soil through our INAB-accredited laboratory. The results enable tailored fertiliser programmes, which can boost grass growth by up to 0.85 tonnes of dry matter per hectare.
