Farmers support Great Yellow Bumblebee project in north Mayo

TWENTY-SIX farm plans have been put together as part of a project to protect the Great Yellow Bumblebee population in north Mayo.

The Great Yellow Bumblebee European Innovation Partnership (EIP) is a one-year pilot, which began in October 2021, to look at supporting the endangered Great Yellow Bumblebee (Bombus distinguendus) and raise awareness of the pollinator’s plight.

The EIP aims to implement a conservation plan for the Great Yellow Bumblebee (benefiting other pollinators and local biodiversity) on 26 farms on the Mullet Peninsula and Erris coastal mainland.

The EIP initiative is co-funded by the EU Commission as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme. The EIP working group supported by Mayo County Council and Belmullet Tidy Towns, also includes farmers, a local agriculture advisor, an ecologist, a representative from BirdWatch Ireland, NPWS, Teagasc and the School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin.

The project is also working with other groups such as Corncrake LIFE and Machair LIFE projects.

The Great Yellow Bumblebee is classified as ‘Endangered’ on the Irish Red List, and ‘Vulnerable’ at European level. While once widespread cross the whole country, it was never a common species. Today the only known viable population is on the Mullet Peninsula and Erris coastal mainland.

The decline of the Great Yellow Bumblebee is thought to be connected to the loss of flower rich habitats. These bumblebees would previously have used hay meadows which have now been replaced by silage fields.

The project aims to maintain and enhance flora-rich farmland habitats and increase connectivity between these habitats, providing essential forage and nesting habitat for this rare bumblebee as well as other pollinators.

Twenty-six farm plans have been produced by the project ecologist in consultation with each farmer. Farmers will receive a payment for each action they agree to do. On average payment will be around €1,000 - €1,400 per farmer.

Farmer actions include delayed mowing, no summer grazing on flora rich habitats such as machair and traditional managed flora rich meadows and leaving linear features ungrazed/unmowed till later in the summer. All these actions will allow flowers to grow, which in turn provide food for pollinators.

The project is working with other landowners, including Mayo County Council, NPWS, Irish Water and other statutory bodies, to manage their lands for pollinators throughout the area and tie in with the work being done by Belmullet Tidy Towns. A number of workshops and information evenings have had a great response from farmers, landowners and community members.

Dr. Margaret Tallott from Belmullet Tidy Towns explained: “We can all play a part in saving the Great Yellow Bumblebee. Belmullet Tidy Towns manage 22 sites under pollinator friendly regimes and many locals have also pledged their gardens for pollinators, by taking some very simple steps such as mowing lawns less frequently or eliminating the use of weed killer. The highlight of our work so far was finding a Great Yellow Bumblebee in our town garden during our recent biodiversity workshop series. Ní beatha go beacha!”

Members of the public in the Mullet Peninsula and Erris coastal mainland are asked to get

involved in the project by firstly sending in sightings of the great yellow bumblebee. Records can be sent, ideally with a photograph, by WhatsApp to (086) 3620928 or by email to gybbproject@gmail.com.

Secondly, people on the Mullet and Erris coastal mainland are asked to get involved in a native seed collecting project, where they can collect native wildflower seeds which will go

toward restoring some flower rich habitat for pollinators in the Belmullet area.

Anyone interested in the project can contact gybbproject@gmail.com or keep an eye on social media.

For more information, visit:

Website: https://www.belmullettidytowns.com/great-yellow-bumblebee/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GYB_Project

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ProjectGYB

Instagram: GYBB.EIP

Contact: Dr. Karina Dingerkus (project ecologist) at karina@giorria.com or (086) 3620928.