All abuzz on the Poole Family farm in Co Wexford

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Land Use and Biodiversity, Senator Pippa Hackett congratulated the Pooles’ for the work they have done on their farm outside Gorey, Co Wexford as part of the Pilot National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme.

Minister Hackett said “The Poole family farm is the perfect place for the Department to celebrate World Bee Day 2024. The whole family are involved at the beautiful farm, and it is really bustling with life and biodiversity. The passion and energy of the children’s involvement is clear, and it shows that the Pilot National Pollinator Scheme is of huge value as a learning experience for children and adults alike, as well as having an important role in the advancement of scientific knowledge and pollinator conservation.”

Bee and pollinator populations are fundamental for the health of ecosystems and food security. In Ireland, one third of our wild bee species is threatened with extinction and bumblebee populations show a worrying year on year decline of 3.3% since 2012.

Ireland’s Pilot National Pollinator Monitoring Scheme was set up in 2021 with joint funding from the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. It is now in its third year and Alan and Cheryl Poole’s farm is one of 40 sites where surveys for bees, butterflies and hoverflies will be carried out over the summer months. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine also fund a Farmland Pollinator officer as part of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan to provide support, advice and engagement for the farming community.

World Bee Day 2024 focuses on the theme "Bee engaged with Youth". This theme highlights the importance of involving young people in pollinator conservation efforts, recognizing them as the future stewards of our environment.

The Poole family are full-time dairy farmers and are passionate about the biodiversity on their farm. This is evident from the bird and insect life and the thick flowering hedgerows which are trimmed on a 3 year basis. There are also grass margins, newly planted hedgerows and trees as well as a traditional orchard all of which were established under the which were established under the ACRES General Scheme. Alan has recently converted approximately 25% of the grazing area to either multi-species sward or clover with benefits for pollinators as well as the soil.

Speaking of the how the farm operates Alan Poole said: “What we are really passionate about is showing that it is possible to leave space for nature while farming a modern and productive system. Ruth Wilson, the Farmland Pollinator Officer, really encouraged us to take notice of bees and other pollinators around the farm and to make small changes like leaving flowering thistles for the bees. We have really seen a difference and send Ruth updates on plants in bloom or bees we spot.”

Minister Hackett concluded by commending the work of the project and Alan and Cheryl on their pollinator friendly farm, “World Bee Day falls during National Biodiversity Week, and the Poole family farm is a textbook example to us all on how to incorporate biodiversity-positive actions on a busy, productive farm. From barn owl boxes to swifts and sand martins and bees and butterflies, there is so much going on for pollinators and farmland biodiversity. The farm really is a hive of activity this World Bee Day!”