Cootehill buzzing about orchard

Mixed fruit orchards are being planted at Halton’s Amenity in Cootehill as a biodiversity initiative to protect bees and increase pollination.

Cootehill Area Development Ltd is part of 52 pledgers and over 90 schools and community groups planting in excess of 1,000 mixed fruit orchards all over Ireland as part of an ‘Orchards in the Community’ initiative.

The programme, sponsored by Host in Ireland, recognises the key role orchards play in providing an early food source for struggling bees.

Malachy Magee, project coordinator Cootehill Area Development Ltd, explained further.“As part of our biodiversity plan in our park, we have identified the 21 different species of bumblebees that are vital pollinators and a key component of Ireland’s biodiversity. We are creating pollinator friendly zones by reducing our grass cutting regime. These will be accessible to all our community young and old.”

The community group purchased 10 acres of mature forest at Dartrey, Cootehill, from Coillte back in 2012 for community and outdoor recreation activities and this is the latest project to be progressed there.

With ‘Orchards in the Community’, orchards are being planted in every single county on the island of Ireland - making this an all Ireland effort.

Malachy added that Cootehill Area Development has been “very involved in the economic and social development of our communities over the years and now recognise the challenges and rewards that good biodiversity planning brings to our communities for future generations”.

“‘Orchards in the Community’ is helping to create ‘pollinator pit stops’ across the island. One third of our 99 wild bee species are at risk of extinction. Each year as they flower, these orchards will provide them with vital food. In return, by pollinating the flowers, the bees will ensure we have lots of fruits to enjoy in the autumn,” said Dr Úna Fitzpatrick, co-founder and project manager of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan.

“The scale of this initiative provides us with a unique opportunity to track change. By planting uniform orchards in multiple locations within the one growing season, we can assess which insects visit in different regions, and better understand which areas have the greatest abundance and diversity of pollinators remaining.”

“Orchards have played an important role in communities for many centuries, providing a focal point, a gathering space, and a place where people and nature successfully work together to create abundant harvests,” said Garry Connolly, founder, Host in Ireland.

“That spirit of community is alive and well with ‘Orchards in the Community’ as organisations like Cootehill Area Development Ltd come together with biodiversity groups, schools, colleges, Tidy Towns and others across Ireland to tackle challenges like biodiversity loss to save Ireland’s pollinators.”