THERE was a great buzz around Lough Gur last weekend as new habitats for wild Irish honeybees and solitary bees were installed.
The Green Team from Analog Devices Ireland (ADI), the Irish Bee Conservation Project (IBCP), Lough Gur Development, Social Impact Ireland and Limerick City and County Council bustled about at the South East Limerick heritage site as part of the project.
The installation of 24 new bee lodge habitats in Lough Gur was a monumental task that was readily undertaken by the teams of volunteers who gave up their Saturday to carry out this kind and caring work for the benefit of the environment in Limerick.
“The reason for this work is simple. Both bee species are vital for sustaining a healthy ecosystem. Bees may be small but the role that they play on this Earth is vital to the very existence of all life. We may not be able to solve the problem on a global scale, but we can do our part to help improve matters,” organisers explained.
A red list of Ireland’s bees published in 2006 outlined the worrying state of bees in Ireland. In short, the bees that are vital for life and are in urgent need of protection and support.
Peter Meehan, of Analog Devices Ireland Green Team said they were proud to to support this Limerick initiative through the IBCP in Lough Gur.
“As a company we recognise that protecting our environment is imperative to safeguard our planet for future generations. We’ve set out to be carbon neutral by 2030 and to produce net zero emissions by 2050,” Mr Meehan explained.
“Our Green Team is a grass roots led initiative and our passionate volunteers work tirelessly to identify and promote sustainable activities within ADI, at home and across our local communities. We’re delighted to be here today to fund and help install the bee lodge habitats.”
Eamon Ryan, CEO of Social Impact Ireland, based at the University of Limerick, who created the initial link between all organisations was there on the day to see yet another step taken by those who strive towards an ever stronger future for Lough Gur.
“Today shows how industry, community, council, social enterprises and charitable organisations can work together to create real and lasting social impact. Often it is small simple steps that show us how best we can work together to build towards a shared vision of what true community is about,” he said.
Teams worked together on the day with a common goal, climbing ladders to affix the lodges sensitivity on trees along the Ash Point Trail.
As an expert in bees, CEO of the IBCP Pat Deasy, who led the team of installers on the day, commented: “These new bee lodges will offer Limerick bees a safe home to retreat to in order to refuel and go about their crucial pollination work. As over 95 per cent of the world’s 20,000 bee species are solitary bees, it is rewarding today to see that great efforts will be made in Lough Gur to protect the native honeybees and solitary bees.”
