Kildare's Top Pollinator Site
Kildare County Council's Parks Pilot Project continues with the aim of changing work practices around public open spaces to make maintenance plans more environmentally sensitive.
One exciting element of this progressive project is Kildare County Council’s partnership with Maynooth University on a funded MSc Scholarship in Sustainable Management Practices.
This two-year structured Masters by Research Programme is investigating sustainable open space management with a view to developing biodiversity-promoting management plans.
Some interesting findings are already emerging from this research by Sophia Couchman.
Sophia carried out a survey of 22 Kildare County Council sites in July and August 2021 to track pollinators like bumblebees, honeybees, butterflies, moths, and hoverflies.
She surveyed parks, roundabouts and other public open spaces and found hundreds of pollinator species feeding on thistles and knapweed, showing the importance of our native plant species. Bramble growing in hedgerows also provided a good food source.
With 119 different species recorded, Leixlip Spa was Kildare's top pollinator site. This amenity is a mineral spring area with unique characteristics for flora and fauna.
This baseline biodiversity data has significant implications for future open space management.
You can make your outdoor space pollinator friendly by not cutting your grass until mid-April, after dandelions have flowered but before they set seed. Dandelions are a superfood for bees. Give them a chance to bloom and wild bees won’t go hungry this Spring.
