A buzz about Cavan on World Bee Day
The day celebrates pollinating insects that are fundamental to Ireland’s ecological health.
Today, May 20 is World Bee Day and the event aims to celebrate 100 species of bees, pollinating insects that are fundamental to Ireland’s ecological health.
Green Sod, an organisation set up to protect and conserve Irish land and its biodiversity is hoping to get people buzzing about World Bee Day.
It works with communities hosting school and public talks as part of a concerted effort to educate people on a range of topics including the native wild bee species.
“It’s not just about honey bees or bumblebees,” says Green Sod Ireland Programme Manager Janet Laffey. There are 100 species of bees and 99 are wild bees including bumblebees and solitary bees. They carry out lots of pollination but don’t get the recognition of other species. We hope that by giving people fascinating information, we can create a spark of excitement in them.”
Meanwhile, pollinating insects are fundamental to the country’s ecological health. The final report of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss put into stark relief the decline in Ireland’s natural environment – with urbanisation and the destruction of hedgerows, along with the increased use of fertilisers by the agriculture industry, blamed for the dramatic downturn in populations of pollinating insects.
This is particularly interesting given that May 22 is International Day for Biodiversity.