Make 2019 the Year of Pollinators

Harry Palmr

We knew things we bad but it looks like they are worse than feared -

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320718313636

Biodiversity of insects is threatened worldwide. Here, we present a comprehensive review of 73 historical reports of insect declines from across the globe, and systematically assess the underlying drivers. Our work reveals dramatic rates of decline that may lead to the extinction of 40% of the world's insect species over the next few decades.

In terrestrial ecosystems, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera and dung beetles (Coleoptera) appear to be the taxa most affected, whereas four major aquatic taxa (Odonata, Plecoptera, Trichoptera and Ephemeroptera) have already lost a considerable proportion of species. Affected insect groups not only include specialists that occupy particular ecological niches, but also many common and generalist species.

Concurrently, the abundance of a small number of species is increasing; these are all adaptable, generalist species that are occupying the vacant niches left by the ones declining. Among aquatic insects, habitat and dietary generalists, and pollutant-tolerant species are replacing the large biodiversity losses experienced in waters within agricultural and urban settings.

The main drivers of species declines appear to be in order of importance: i) habitat loss and conversion to intensive agriculture and urbanisation; ii) pollution, mainly that by synthetic pesticides and fertilisers; iii) biological factors, including pathogens and introduced species; and iv) climate change. The latter factor is particularly important in tropical regions, but only affects a minority of species in colder climes and mountain settings of temperate zones.

A rethinking of current agricultural practices, in particular a serious reduction in pesticide usage and its substitution with more sustainable, ecologically-based practices, is urgently needed to slow or reverse current trends, allow the recovery of declining insect populations and safeguard the vital ecosystem services they provide. In addition, effective remediation technologies should be applied to clean polluted waters in both agricultural and urban environments.

What can we do? Small things but which add up locally and if nothing else we can know we did our bit.

Go here for the national pollination programme http://pollinators.ie/gardens/

https://irishbeekeeping.ie/education/articles/flowers-for-bees/

lordgoat

Currently removing moss and grass from front lawns, plan is to have at least one wild meadow in there for the summer

rolion

I was planning to get strawberries along the garden walls and the roof of the greenhouse.
Now,im going to plant all those nice flowers as in the poster.
All over the space,front and back.

I'll built something out of the long 3m white plastic gutters and along with some compost plant flowers.
Fix them along the wall.

Also,thinking of building a back small extension,may get the roof covered with plants rather than the blanks tiles.

I'll try printing and laminate the posters,drop them few of them to my local 3 garden shops and 2 Woodies Garden Centres.
Jut leave them out there on the wall or doors / windows for everyoen to see and make thier mind to buy a single person a single flower and it may make difference.


I'll try sending to some of the schools / teachers and get the children involved along in the spring,when they do the vegetables gardens.

Thanks...and have fun !
Bless the bees...

Roen

Going to do that seed bomb thing. Ordering 1000 for the garden and ditches around me.

magicbastarder

lordgoat wrote: »

Currently removing moss and grass from front lawns, plan is to have at least one wild meadow in there for the summer

are you removing the top layer of soil too?

lordgoat

magicbastarder wrote: »

are you removing the top layer of soil too?

Let's just say the 'soil' underneath the moss doesn't need to be made any worse.

Also I'd recommend anyone interested in this to go to www.wildflowers.ie.

Could can order a seed mix specific to your site, more effective than the seed bombs but preparation of the site is crucial. I'm aiming to have my two little gardens de-mossed by mid-March and then sow.

smacl

Was pleased to notice that there are now three very active bee colonies in the walled gardens in Marlay where there had been just the one last year. With small enough gardens front and back myself, not a huge amount of scope to do much myself, though I've put a half dozen new lavender plants in last year which the bees seem to love. The composter and worm farm also seem to attract a fair amount of insect life.

Ixlandia

I got planting lots of my single head Dahlia's today, and so much more to do. I have Verbena's, Cosmos, cornflowers, Agastache and Borage to name but a few. Last year I planted buddleia's on my garden site, in one day I recorded nearly 100 butterflies in one afternoon.

Thanks for the info Harry, remember also that a wildflower meadow will only thrive in very poor soil, grass will gain the upperhand if not controlled.

crisco10

I've a partial shade (gets light for about 8 hours at height of summer) area, currently have foxgloves in some of it which grows well and bees love.

What else could I put there that would survive perennially like the foxgloves? Obviously that the Bees and butterflies would enjoy ..

I'd prefer non-toxic too, (although I know foxglove isn't that!)..

macraignil

crisco10 wrote: »

I've a partial shade (gets light for about 8 hours at height of summer) area, currently have foxgloves in some of it which grows well and bees love.

What else could I put there that would survive perennially like the foxgloves? Obviously that the Bees and butterflies would enjoy ..

I'd prefer non-toxic too, (although I know foxglove isn't that!)..

I was going to suggest comfrey but it says on the RHS page that it is toxic and should not be eaten. I found this list that might be useful. I have found penstemon, lamium lemon balm and cranesbill good in shady parts of my own garden. Buddleia is also on the list and is great for butterflies but it grows into a fairly large shrub so might be too big for what you describe you are looking for. Pheasant berry might also be worth considering if size is not an issue.

Harry Palmr

Bump.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/may/06/human-society-under-urgent-threat-loss-earth-natural-life-un-report

Roen

By the way, zero germination rate from the seedbombs out of 400. Also two other lads in the farming forum experienced the same.
I gave out about 50 or 60 to work mates for their kids and none of those germinated either. So it's not just me or my site.
I'm thinking to soak the ones I have left to break them up and see is there any seed in them at all.

If the Irish wildflower site was usable I'd have used them.

Will revisit this in autumn. I think the spring ship has sailed.

New Home

Could they have been eaten?

Roen

New Home wrote: »

Could they have been eaten?

Look untouched. Still just sitting there intact. They advertise they stick chili in them to deter pests too.

Harry Palmr

That's interesting, I just spread a packet of wild flower seeds for a client which were from county council stock (as used on roundabouts etc), raked them in just before the rain. Must find out in a week or two if they have germinated.

uck51js9zml2yt

I just threw a few packs of seeds out today in the verges of the veggie garden.
Got them from fruit hill farm.

Blondie919

Does anyone know where I could get a swarm of bees? My sister wants to get them for her garden to encourage them to live and spread there. Is this even possible? It's a great idea I think but can it be done? A friend of a friend has honeybees but they require a lot of work?

lordgoat

Roen wrote: »

By the way, zero germination rate from the seedbombs out of 400. Also two other lads in the farming forum experienced the same.
I gave out about 50 or 60 to work mates for their kids and none of those germinated either. So it's not just me or my site.
I'm thinking to soak the ones I have left to break them up and see is there any seed in them at all.

If the Irish wildflower site was usable I'd have used them.

Will revisit this in autumn. I think the spring ship has sailed.

Not being bad but it's not as easy as just throwing a few here and there. You'd be better plating a clover cover crop or phacelia tbh

New Home

Ask the beekeeping forum, Blondie. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=1633

I doubt they'd stay put, unless you provide them with shelter/a place they find suitable (I don't know much about them, though, I'll admit).

I think you should be able to find bumblebee for sale somewhere (some tomato producers use them for pollination inside their greenhouses), but I don't know whether they'd ship to Ireland. You might be better off improving the habitat in your garden/orchard to encourage them.

fryup

well i'm sowing wild flowers around the perimeter of my back lawn

Roen

lordgoat wrote: »

Not being bad but it's not as easy as just throwing a few here and there. You'd be better plating a clover cover crop or phacelia tbh

No worries.

I didn't throw a few here or there. Not sure where you picked up that idea
I worked fairly hard in prepping the soil for this. I feel I've done my part.

magicbastarder

there are ways of preparing potential nesting sites for bumblebees, but i've never heard of a trade in them.
anyway, bumblebees would have all made their nests by now so it's a bit late this year. probably worth prepping for next year?

Lumen

It is worth bearing in mind that bees are venomous, defensive, swarming creatures whose stings can induce analphylactic shock and even death.

I've recently become quite interested in beekeeping, but have been quickly disavowed of the idea that it is something to be approached lightly.

There's a big difference between planting things which support bees (unarguably good!) and bringing a colony or swarm of them into your garden.

magicbastarder

i have been stung by honeybees and wasps, never by a bumblebee.

Lumen

magicbastarder wrote: »

i have been stung by honeybees and wasps, never by a bumblebee.

Possibly because they're so loud you don't accidentally lean on one!

But I guess they will defend a nest.

Graces7

Lumen wrote: »

It is worth bearing in mind that bees are venomous, defensive, swarming creatures whose stings can induce analphylactic shock and even death.

I've recently become quite interested in beekeeping, but have been quickly disavowed of the idea that it is something to be approached lightly.

There's a big difference between planting things which support bees (unarguably good!) and bringing a colony or swarm of them into your garden.

I realised last summer, my first full year out here, that there were large numbers of bees in and out of the fuchsia at my gate. And I mean hundreds Made me very wary. I have planted many things they love, including masses of montbretia etc. Love watching them but wary

fryup

^^^^^^^^^^

just keep your distance, respect them...and all be well

my3cents

Graces7 wrote: »

I realised last summer, my first full year out here, that there were large numbers of bees in and out of the fuchsia at my gate. And I mean hundreds Made me very wary. I have planted many things they love, including masses of montbretia etc. Love watching them but wary

I think its been mentioned before and that you are aware that montbretia is considered an invasive species https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingschemesandpayments/glastraining/MontbretiaFinalDraft230616.pdf .

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

magicbastarder wrote: »

i have been stung by honeybees and wasps, never by a bumblebee.

I've been stung by a bumblebee after accidentally crushing it in my hand while weeding. It's an awfully painful sting, and unlike wasp stings need an alkaline applied to ease it.

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

my3cents wrote: »

I think its been mentioned before and that you are aware that montbretia is considered an invasive species https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/farmingschemesandpayments/glastraining/MontbretiaFinalDraft230616.pdf .

It's an absolute pest and not particularly beneficial to native pollinators. A few foxgloves and a bit of Heather will yield more benefit than a sea of Montbretia.

Dial Hard

I'm sure many of you already knew this but it was news to me and I found the thread very informative & interesting - why you should be very careful about buying a commercial "bee hotel":

https://twitter.com/colinpurrington/status/1124354705256321024

My entire back garden was cobblelocked over by the previous owners but I have containers to beat the band - any suggestions for helpful plants to put in them? So far I have:

Thyme
Oregano
Mint
Rosemary
Lavender
Broom

I prefer edibles but I'm happy to sacrifice some summer eating to be a bit more bee friendly!