All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Conference 2018:

Our 2018 conference ‘Making room for Biodiversity’ took place on March 6th in Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and focused on what Councils can do to help pollinating insects. Training was provided on the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan as well as an interesting line-up of guest speakers, including council staff and horticulturalists, who offered advice on what to plant for pollinators; how to alter current mowing regimes; and road verge maintenance. The conference offered an opportunity to learn from the experiences of other pollinator project managers.

 

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan
– Dr Una FitzPatrick, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Project Coordinator

 

Actions Councils can take to help pollinators
– Juanita Browne, All-Ireland Pollinator Plan Project Officer

 

Managing roadside verges for pollinators
– Rachel Bain, Don’t Mow Let it Grow

 

Creating meadows for pollinators
– Giles Knight, Save Our Magnificent Meadows

 

How do pesticides affect pollinators?
– Dr Dara Stanley, NUI Galway

 

Councils: Implementation of pollinator actions
– Anne Murray, Biodiversity Officer, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

 

What to plant for pollinators
– Peter Cuthbert, Consultant Horticulturalist

 

Green Flag for Parks Pollinator Award
– Rory Finnegan, Castletown House, Celbridge

 

Working with Local Community Groups for Pollinators
– Dr Janice Fuller, Consultant Ecologist

 

Acknowledgements:

We would like to thank all of our wonderful speakers who volunteered their time to take part.

Thank you to our conference sponsors, Westmeath County Council;
the Local Authority Heritage Officer and Biodiversity Officer Network;
and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency.