SuperValu launches Save The Bees campaign
Print12 March 2020
One third of the food crops we grow benefit from pollination, yet 30% of bees are in danger of becoming extinct in Ireland. If not properly addressed, this will negatively impact our environment and food supply.
Habitat loss and lack of food mean the future of bees and other pollinators is uncertain. Ultimately, this will affect the food we eat, in particular fruit and vegetables, as without pollinators it would be extremely difficult to eat a healthy balanced diet.
While loss of habit and food source have contributed significantly to the decline in the number of bees, people can work to change that. SuperValu wants to help local communities, schools and families to create an Ireland where pollinators can thrive.
It is vital that bees have enough flowers to forage and safe places to use for nesting. Therefore, in collaboration with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, SuperValu has launched its Save the Bees campaign to raise awareness of the importance of pollinators and to support the local biodiversity in communities around Ireland. The campaign will educate and empower school children to make a difference.
Every primary school in Ireland has just received a SuperValu Save the Bees Pollinator Pack. This pack has been co-created with Dr Una Fitzpatrick, head of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan and is endorsed by SuperValu TidyTowns. The pack contains guidebooks, posters and bookmarks in addition to a wildflower garden kit with native Irish seeds and a garden sign to allow every school to create their own wildflower patch which can be replicated in home gardens across Ireland.
Many bedding plants are not rich in pollen or nectar and, in order to thrive, wild bees need pockets of wildflower-rich habitat to provide them with nesting areas and a diverse diet. To further promote awareness and action, families can collect their own Save the Bees cards in SuperValu with a spend of over €30. These cards are added to each school’s Save the Bees poster which once completed can be entered into a draw to win a share of €50,000 for the school. All elements of the Save the Bees Pollinator pack have been sustainably sourced and are recyclable.
“Bees are some of our most important pollinators, contributing to the production of food and other materials worldwide,” said Prof Jane Stout, deputy chair of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. “Whilst foraging for nectar and pollen, they disperse pollen and enable plants to produce fruits and seeds, which help maintain plant communities and beautiful landscapes, as well as supporting other wildlife, including birds, mammals and other insects.
“Bee decline is driven by a range of human activities, including loss and degradation of the habitats in which they live. By protecting and creating patches of wildflowers, leaving other wild areas in the garden for bees to nest, and by eliminating pesticide (insecticides, fungicides and herbicides) use in domestic areas, we can help to create urban garden refuges for bees.”
Dr Una Fitzpatrick, head of the All Ireland Pollinator Plan added that: “Ireland’s wild pollinators are in serious decline, but we can change this. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a call to action to all of us. It is about communicating to everyone exactly how to help in the most effective way possible. The new ‘Save the Bees’ campaign epitomises this, and we are delighted to partner with SuperValu in educating and empowering children across over 3,200 primary schools on how to help change the fate of our pollinators for the better.”
For more information, visit supervalu.ie/real-people/save-the-bees
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