Irish rewilding initiative to help Ireland’s bee and pollinator population

There is a rewilding initiative in an effort to address the reduction of Ireland’s bee and pollinator population. As a first step in this campaign, Keelings will be giving away 100,000,000 wildflower seeds.

Irish rewilding initiative to help Ireland’s bee and pollinator population

To get involved, people can pick up their free wildflower seeds by redeeming promotional codes online from their special berry punnets. Each seed pack has a blend of 30 different species which have been expertly mixed by Sandro Cafolla, a wildflower grower in Carlow who has worked with Keelings for many years and has helped them to create their wildflower meadow in St Margarets, Co Dublin.

As growers, looking after the bees and other pollinators is paramount and wildflowers play a huge role in providing food for their survival. There are lots of different ways to help rewild gardens and green spaces and everyone can play a small part to make a big difference. As summer approaches and gardens begin to bloom, there has never been a better time to get behind this initiative.

Schools are also being encouraged to get involved with 250 schools across the nation to receive a special pack of wildflower seeds. Children can develop new skills, learn about nature and growing while playing their part in The Great Rewilding.

David Keeling, CEO, Keelings Retail said: The launch of the Keelings Great Rewilding initiative is a commitment from our business to helping address the declining population of pollinators. Bees and pollinators play such a critical role in growing fruit and other foods and we really hope people will get on board and join us by encouraging wildflowers to grow locally in whatever outdoor space they might have.

Diarmuid Gavin, garden designer and Keelings Great Rewilding ambassador commented: “I am delighted to support Keelings on their Great Rewilding initiative. This is an area that has been close to my heart for many years and I cannot emphasise enough the importance of the role that pollinators play in our ecosystem. It is so simple for people to get involved with lots of ways to rewild your garden. Keep an eye on my social media channels over the coming months where I will be sharing top tips to become part of the solution of the decline in pollinators.”

There are a lot of simple ways to rewild a part of your garden:

—  Take a break from mowing a piece of the lawn.

—  Why not plant window boxes and hanging baskets with colourful flowers – bees especially love the purple and blue ones!

—  Make a cosy insect hotel in a sunny part of your garden for solitary bees to nest in.

*Each punnet entitles you to redeem one seed pack. Households are limited to two seed packs in total. T&C’s apply, limited quantity available. For further information and top tips please visit www.keelingsgreatrewilding.ie

Keelings is a 100% Irish-owned family business, focused on growing, sourcing, shipping, marketing, selling, distributing, and supplying first in class produce. Its head office is located in FoodCentral, St. Margaret’s, Co. Dublin. Keelings started producing fruits and salads in the 1930s, supplying produce to local Dublin markets.  Today, the state-of-the-art strawberry glasshouse on Keelings farm has the capacity to produce over 100 million Irish strawberries for the Irish market and to extend the season into December.

See more stories here.