Biodiversity

The MGRA Biodiversity committee supports the Let Dandelions Bee initiative.

 

One-third of Ireland’s 98 wild bee species are threatened with extinction. Despite the decline of Ireland’s bees, there are no protected bee species here.

Three bee species have become extinct in Ireland within the past 80 years. Bee populations in Ireland are decreasing at a rate above the global average.

We need pollinators. Out of the 100 crop species which provide 90% of food worldwide, 71 are bee-pollinated. That’s a lot!

Contrary to popular belief, our 98 species of wild bees are responsible for most pollination here in Ireland, rather than our 1 species of honeybee.

In fact, dandelions are our wild bees’ most favourite food, based on sightings reported to the National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2019.

Dandelions offer vital sustenance to emerging bees each spring. This is because they bloom earlier than the majority of spring flowers.

 

We maintain an active Biodiversity mandate and encourage residents in the estate to reach out if they would be interested in partaking in any future events.