The National Biodiversity Data Centre has launched a free online training course focused on “pollinator-friendly farming’.
The course, funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM), is aimed at farmers, farm advisors and agricultural students.
It is part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan which provides information to farmers about the wild pollinators that occur on their farms, and what evidence-based actions can be taken to help these important insects.
Pollinator
Ruth Wilson, farmland pollinator officer with the All Ireland Pollinator Plan, told Agriland that it takes about 30 minutes to complete the course, which can be accessed on the National Biodiversity Data Centre website.
“We’ve made it as interactive and attractive as possible so that is it interesting. It just goes through why we need pollinators in the wider landscape and how they’re important for crop yields with farmers and market gardeners.
“It also helps with our native wildflowers as well so that they become resilient as well,” she said.
The course outlines the pollinators native to Ireland, including bumblebees, solitary bees, hoverflies and moths.
“Then it’s really what pollinators need and simple actions that can be taken on a farm,” Wilson said.
The course examines the importance of hedgerows both as a food source and a place of refuge for pollinators to nest and hibernate.
“The number one action is hedgerows. Our hedgerows can be species rich. Getting successional flowering from spring, right through to late autumn is so important for pollinators,” Wilson added.
The course also shows how margins where herbicides and pesticides are not used can be used to allow wild flowers to develop naturally.
“If there’s a corner or an awkward space, a non-farmed area we would call it, that can be a real asset as well.
“If there was enough space for a pollinator friendly tree or even just our native wildflowers, hogweed or maybe a surprise would be a dandelion area.
“It’s just to appreciate those areas and maybe not to be so tidy,” Wilson said.
Population decline
Ireland’s top bumblebee populations have been monitored for over a decade now through a dedicated scheme.
“There’s been a 3% decline in those common bumblebee species since 2012, so that’s unfortunate to see.
“Some of the more rare species have been pushed to the edge a bit more especially on the west coast.
“So it’s wonderful if we can you know, we have some more areas on farmland and gardens that pollinators can move around the landscape a bit easier. It’s simple actions really,” Wilson said.