Miren-Maialen, Dr. Úna FitzPatrick, and Cat Savage.

Miren-Maialen CGI committee member was delighted to attend the launch of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2026–2030 (AIPP) at the National Botanical Gardens on Thursday 9th of July representing Community Gardens Ireland as one of the partner organisations. Community Gardens Ireland were acknowledged as one of the partner organisations highlighting how community gardens can help pollinators and biodiversity.

We would like to thank Dr Úna FitzPatrick from the National Biodiversity Data Centre  for inviting us and are delighted to be a partner organisation, playing a role in the implementation of the new AIPP and on the role of Community Gardens in protecting Ireland’s pollinators.

Dr Noleen Smyth, the new Director of the National Botanical Gardeners addressed the audience.

Both Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan TD and Andrew Muir, Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural affairs addressed the audience highlighting the importance of the Shared Island approach.

Among the partner organisations, the speakers were Andrew Berging, giving the farmers perspective, Cat Savage from South Dublin County Council, Pauline Campbell from Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Fiona McGowan provided a community perspective as well as Eimear Fox in relation to Transport and Utility companies and Dara Stanley from UCD Irish Pollinator Research Network.  

The 2026-2030 phase of the Pollinator Plan is supported through funding from the Government of Ireland’s Shared Island Fund, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA).

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (AIPP) has become internationally renowned as best practice, and as a successful model that has been copied by other European States in developing their own action plans to reverse pollinator declines. The AIP is built on robust scientific research, and all recommended actions are evidence-based.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre launched a new booklet in Greystones and Kilcoole Community Garden on Saturday 20th June, entitles ‘How Community Gardens Can Help Pollinators’. It was developed in collaboration with Community Gardens Ireland, providing guidance on how these important green spaces can support pollinating insects.