Mayor of Drogheda Kevin Callan is supporting calls from the Irish Beekeepers Associations asking Local Authorities to delay cutting roadside verges until dandelions have flowered to help prevent a further decline in the bee population.
The Mayor said we must help if we can.
“What is being sought by the beekeepers is a small effort in terms of not cutting the margins along the roadsides of Drogheda and throughout the county once the dandelion is flowering.
“This work can easily be paused for a short period of time but the results will be to protect biodiversity and our bee population.
“Throughout Drogheda we have many volunteers in our schools, Tidy Towns and Residents Associations who have worked on biodiversity gardens, planting bee friendly flowers and even installing beehives.
“I am requesting council management engage with myself and the beekeepers to see how we can help. The effort would be cost neutral but priceless in terms of helping nature and our local environment.
In a letter to the Mayor, the Secretary of the Federation of Irish Beekeepers, Gus McCoy, said:
“Because of the serious decline in the bee population, we request that you leave the mowing of roadside verges, roundabouts and parks until the flower of the dandelion is finished.
“Dandelion is the main source of food at this time of year for bumblebees and solitary bees which are our main pollinators.”
