Bee-Friendly Trolleys available in store from June 1st with portion of proceeds going to Barnardos
Pollinators are the bees’ knees! Not only do they help fertilise flowers, plants, and crops, but we rely on them to help produce many of our fruits and vegetables. They sometimes need a helping hand from us humans, so that’s why ALDI is buzzing to announce that its Bee Happy event will take place in store next month!
From June 1st, ALDI will have three bee-friendly trolleys on sale in 157 stores nationwide. Located at the front door of every store, each trolley will contain a range of bee-friendly flowers and plants designed to attract our winged friends to outdoor spaces and promote pollination.
The Bee Happy event is taking place in support of ALDI’s charity partner Barnardos. The retailer has committed to donating a portion of the sales to the charity, which supports vulnerable children and their families across Ireland.
See below for full details of bee-friendly trolleys available in ALDI stores nationwide from June 1st:
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 1 €1.99 Dahlia, Bidens, Bacopa and Nemesia. €0.50 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 2 €2.99 Digitalis, Delphinium, Dianthus, Echinacea, and Lupins. €0.50 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 3 €3.99 Scabiosa, Crocosmia, Salvia, Geranium, Campanula and Leucanthemum. €1.00 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
World Bee Day takes place tomorrow (May 20th) and aims to raise awareness of the importance of bees and the vital role they play in our ecological system. However, many species of bees and pollinators are under threat, meaning it’s more important than ever that we ensure our gardens and outdoor spaces are welcoming and hospitable to bees.
Speaking ahead of World Bee Day, Dr. Úna FitzPatrick, Senior Ecologist with the National Biodiversity Data Centre with responsibility for the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, said: “Ireland's 101 species of wild bees are in huge decline with one third already threatened with extinction. Our bumblebees and other pollinators are disappearing due to lack of food. By adding bee-friendly plants to your garden you can create a vital food-pit-stop and create a garden landscape where bumblebees can survive and thrive.”
With that in mind, here are some easy pollinator-friendly garden hacks for you to try at home.
- Don’t mow, let it grow: Reduce mowing and let native wildflowers like dandelions bloom. This simple act of letting the grass grow can help provide vital food and shelter for pollinators. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan advises cutting back the frequency of mowing to every six weeks from mid-April. If you have a larger garden, consider creating a patch of long-flowering meadow and leaving the grass grow long for the summer.
- Don’t spray it: Where possible, avoid using chemical-rich insecticides, fungicides and herbicides in the garden. Insecticides can kill, harm or disrupt pollinators while herbicides destroy ‘weeds’ that pollinators rely on as a food source.
- Choose nectar and pollen-rich plants: Planting bulbs in the garden? Always choose nectar and pollen-rich plants that will attract bees. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan especially recommends snowdrop, crocus or allium bulbs, which will provide food for bees in the lean months of spring and provide better food than daffodils or tulips.
- No garden, no problem: Tight on outdoor space? You can still do your bit by incorporating pollinator-friendly plants into window boxes, hanging baskets or patio pots. Even pollinator-friendly potted herbs like lavender, rosemary, sage or thyme will make a difference!
- Install a bee hotel: Provide a nesting habitat for bees by installing a bee hotel in your garden. Bee Hotels are widely available and offer bees a safe place to nest and lay eggs, thus guaranteeing lots more bees!
Available in 157 ALDI stores nationwide from June 1st:
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 1 €1.99 Dahlia, Bidens, Bacopa and Nemesia. €0.50 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 2 €2.99 Digitalis, Delphinium, Dianthus, Echinacea, and Lupins. €0.50 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
- Bee-Friendly Trolley 3 €3.99 Scabiosa, Crocosmia, Salvia, Geranium, Campanula and Leucanthemum. €1.00 from each sale will be donated to Barnardos.
For more information on how you can play your part and protect biodiversity, visit https://pollinators.ie/.
