John Andrew sent us this latest update:
We have extended the pollinator garden in the church grounds with seeds saved from last year. Some Borage overwintered and flowered earlier this month, attracting some bumblebees. We have now added more Borage which will hopefully flower later in the year. We have sown Phacelia, which has now germinated and again will flower later in the year. Phacelia is a great source of pollen and nectar for bees.
St Mary’s church grounds and the Rectory garden are now officially part of the All Ireland Pollinator plan. Registered in the Faith Community section, we are pledging to manage both areas to support and enhance pollinators and increase Biodiversity. We submitted detailed data under various headings:
- Protect existing pollinator habitats – Length of dry stone walls, area of existing earth bank to encourage some bees to nest and details of pollinator friendly habitats such as bramble and ivy.
- Pollinator friendly planting – Number of pollinator trees planted and also the area in m2 where pollinator friendly perennials are planted
- Provide nesting habitats – Solitary bees nest in cracks and holes in the dry stone wall around the perimeter of the graveyard.
- Reduce herbicide use – Herbicide use has been completely eliminated in the graveyard.
- Other – We have erected a nesting box in the graveyard. It will probably take a number of years before birds will nest.
The reason Biodiversity Ireland looks for so much data (length of stone walls, how many pollinator friendly trees planted and area of pollinator friendly planting), is because if adjoining gardens and businesses pledge their gardens to “pollinators.biodiversityireland.ie” they will have a fuller and more accurate picture in terms of feeding for pollinator bees and insects as a whole in the area.
The All Ireland Pollinator Plan registration is open to everybody by pledging your garden to “pollinators.biodiversityireland.ie”
