Every year, the National Biodiversity Data Centre receives thousands of bee sightings. In 2025, 1,728 records were submitted, including information on what flower the bee was feeding on. A huge thank you to everyone who sent in foraging data as it allows us to get as sense of what flowers they prefer. This year’s data again shows the importance of native plants and of simple actions like reduced mowing. Once again, Dandelions came out on top - evidence once again that this often overlooked native wildflower p[lays a vital role for hungry wild bees.

Find out more in the blog below, including a summary of which plants are key each month and how you can grow them.

(Below: a bumblebee forages on White clover. Pic: Cathal Noonan.)

FIT Counts are an important way that you can help us monitor pollinators. They are a quick and easy survey that involves watching a 50cm x 50cm patch of flowers for 10 minutes and count how many insects visit. Anyone can get involved, and you can carry out a FIT Count anywhere, and on any flower, but where you can, please use one of our 15 target flowers. In April, it’s especially useful to carry out FIT Counts on Dandelion. You do need to wait until it’s sunny and at least 13C though!
 
In 2025, 1,323 validated FIT Counts were submitted by 235 different volunteers. The average number of insects per FIT Count was 9. The most common insect group recorded were other flies followed by hoverflies then bumblebees. Gardens were the most common habitat where FIT Counts were carried out in last year. Visit the FIT Count website to download the 2025 newsletter and see the full results of the scheme. An app is available for Ireland that allows you to carry out a FIT Count and upload the results in one go.

This month will see the biggest bloom of Dandelions. These native wildflowers are vital sources of nectar and pollen. Records sent to the National Biodiversity Data Centre in 2024 showed that Dandelions were the most popular food source for wild bees. Help feed hungry pollinators this month and #LetDandelionsBee.

Reducing mowing even to once a month can help feed our hungry pollinators. By mowing less, you are giving native wildflowers a chance to pop up naturally. Over time this will result in pockets of species-rich grassland: a vital habitat providing food and shelter for pollinators. If you're taking part in No Mow May this year and you're worried about grass growth, cut your lawn before the end of April. This will ensure the height is manageable when it’s time to mow again. Make sure you remove grass clippings to help wildflowers grow.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is seeking to appoint two Pollinator Monitoring Research Assistants - one to ensure standardised monitoring across the island under the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, and one with a focus on moths to support delivery of the EU Pollinator Monitoring Scheme in Ireland. This would be an ideal opportunity for someone who would like to gain experience in insect pollinator identification and fieldwork survey techniques. Training will be provided to the successful candidate if necessary.