Create a network
of vital pitstops 

No matter where you live — whether it's a countryside retreat, a city garden, a balcony, or even just a window box—you have the power to support Ireland's pollinators. By making small changes in how we manage our outdoor spaces, we can create a network of vital pitstops that help wild bees, butterflies, and other insects survive and thrive.

Protect What's Already There

The first step to a pollinator-friendly garden isn't planting—it's noticing. Nature is already working its magic, often in places we least expect. Look around your outdoor space:

Are dandelions popping up in your lawn or through patio cracks?

Do you have flowering hedgerows like hawthorn, ivy, holly, or bramble?

Are there patches of bare earth, dry stone walls, or untamed wild corners?

These hidden habitats are already providing food and shelter for pollinators. Your first mission? Protect them! Consider mapping out the pollinator-friendly spots in your space as a reminder of their importance.

Rethink Your Lawn

A neatly trimmed lawn may look tidy, but to a hungry bee, it's a barren desert with no nectar or pollen. The easiest way to help? Mow less.

Many of the 'wildflower' seed mixes sold in stores don't actually contain the native plants that Irish pollinators need. Instead of sowing new seeds, let nature take the lead. When you reduce mowing, native wildflowers—like clovers, dandelions, and birds-foot trefoil—will naturally appear over time. It's better for biodiversity, and it costs nothing!

Since wildflowers thrive in nutrient-poor soil, most regularly mowed lawns are too rich for them. By mowing less often and removing grass clippings when you do mow, you'll gradually reduce soil fertility and create the perfect conditions for native wildflowers to bloom.

Choose a Mowing Plan That Works for You

You don't need to let your entire lawn grow wild—just mowing less in certain areas can make a big difference:

Short-flowering meadow – Mow once a month instead of every couple of weeks. This allows dandelions to flower in April, clovers in May and June, and other native plants like birds-foot trefoil and self-heal to flourish later in the summer.

Long-flowering meadow – In some areas, try cutting just once a year in September after the seeds have dropped. Remove the grass cuttings to keep soil fertility low. Over time, you'll see ox-eye daisies, field scabious, knapweed, and other beautiful wildflowers appear.

Leave some areas untouched – Allowing patches of long grass to remain undisturbed provides vital shelter for pollinators to nest and overwinter.

By making space for nature, your garden—no matter how big or small—can become part of a nationwide effort to restore habitats, support wildlife, and protect Ireland's precious pollinators. Every flower counts!

As Meadows Disappear, So Do Our Pollinators

Pollinators are at the heart of a thriving ecosystem. Around 90% of all flowering plants rely on them to reproduce, shaping the landscapes we know and love. They also play a vital role in our food system—three-quarters of the crops we grow globally depend on pollinators in some way. Without them, everyday favorites like coffee, chocolate, fruits, and nuts would be much harder to come by.

But pollinators, especially our Irish wild bees, are struggling. Loss of habitat is a major issue, with wildflower meadows disappearing and gardens becoming less pollinator-friendly. Many of our 77 bee species are now in decline, simply because they lack safe places to nest and feed.

In Ireland, agriculture is dominated by animal production (mainly cows). "Over 90% of our farmed land is grass used to feed cattle. In the past, these grasslands would have been diverse meadows—rich in native wildflowers and beneficial grasses, offering valuable habitats for pollinators", says Dr. Dara Stanley, University College Dublin. "Today, most fields are dominated by perennial ryegrass, which is wind-pollinated, leaving fewer food sources for bees and other pollinators."

That's where PLAN BEE comes in. I create handmade clay nesting aids—durable, sustainable homes designed specifically for solitary bees like red mason bees and leafcutter bees. These bees don't live in hives or produce honey, but they are incredible pollinators—working up to 100 times more efficiently than honeybees. Alongside clay nesting aids, materials like wood and bamboo also offer crucial shelter, helping to replace the lost natural habitats our wild bees so desperately need. 
Source: pollinators.ie

By installing a PLAN BEE nesting aid in your garden, balcony, or park, you're giving these vital pollinators a safe space to thrive. And in return? You'll enjoy a healthier, more vibrant environment—bursting with flowers, buzzing with life, and contributing to the bigger picture of biodiversity conservation.

Little Nursery 
in your Garden 

Our bee stones offer a unique and effective solution for supporting wild bees. The smooth, stable surface of the clay prevents the buildup of harmful bacteria, while the material itself remains resistant to weathering, ensuring long-lasting use. Additionally, our bee stones are designed to retain moisture, which is crucial for maintaining a healthy microclimate for the bees. With their thoughtful design and environmentally-friendly composition, PLAN BEE's nesting aids provide a superior, low-maintenance option for creating safe, sustainable habitats for pollinators.
Wooden and bamboo alternatives can be a great addition, if made with the bees in mind and follow some guidlines, and they are easier to make than the ceramic bee stones. Why not offer the bees a selection of habitats. 

NO GO: Cheap insect hotels from the garden center

The so called insect hotels you can find in garden centers are most of time rubbish. Here is what you need to look out for: 

• The holes or bambo sticks are not smooth, bees could hurt their wings on the sharp edges. 
• The depth of the hotels is to short: more male will hadge than females 
• You often see that the holes are drilled into the heart of the wood (where you can see the life lines clearly). This way the wood is likely to crack - and open door for parasites (see photo).
• The pine cones don't do anything for insects. There are just a cheap way to fill the space
• Vertical slides for butterflies are also humbug. Most butterflies have a short lifecycle and their brood are somewhere hidden in your garden attached to dead leaves e.g.. A few habinate in sheds or places where it's cold. 

DIY - Make a bee nesting aid from wood and bamboo

If you seek a little project and want to make a nesting aid yourself - here are some tips!

• Young wood (for Wool Carder Bees): You need a piece of hard wood such as oak, beech or walnut. Douglas fir and Larche are cheaper options and they shine due to their ability to repell water. 
• Don't drill into the rings but into the side of the piece of wood. Otherwise cracks will appear sooner or later and parasits can take over
• The holes can be from 3 to 12 mm diameter with different lenghts but at least 10 times the diameter. 
• Sand down the edges of the holes so that they are smooth and cannot harm the wings
• Keep the piece of wood of the ground in a sunny and dry spot and it should last for many years. 
• Dead wood (for Violet Carpenter Bee) left in nature for a few years is a great way to support different wild bees (and other insects and beatles) such as the common carder bee. Weather and little bugs have left their traces after a few years. You can burry half of a dead wood log which will add great value for all kind of little creatures above and under the ground
• Get a few bamboo sticks, 20 is lots. Messure the diameter of the holes and give a lenght of at least 10 times. Get a can or reuse and old mug, and fix the bamboo sticks with wax, plaster or air-drying clay or so to the bottom so that the ends are properly closed. Hang them up steardy in a sunny spot.
•  Important: The bigger the nesting aid the more of a risk to attract parasites. Instead have a few smaller ones spread out in your garden.
• If you have any questions always feel free to pop me an email. :-)