To mark World Bee Day 2026, we are delighted to release a new booklet shining a spotlight on 100 good news stories of pollinator conservation from across the island of Ireland.

This is a celebration of the hard work of local communities, farmers, councils, schools and businesses who have transformed their land to help wild bees during the most recent phase of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (2021-2025).

Wild bees – bumblebees and solitary bees – are in trouble on the island of Ireland, with one third in decline. They pollinate many fruits and vegetables; they are worth millions to our economy, and they ensure the survival of about 70% of our wild plants. Their loss is a problem for the health of our environment, the sustainability of our food production, and the vibrancy of our world.

Pollinators are in decline, but our records show that local populations are increasing where actions are being taken to help them. This booklet showcases a tiny fraction of the thousands of people who have made the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025 a reality. It is a celebration of what has been achieved, and a much-needed reminder that we can make a difference if we work together to take the right actions. With beautiful illustrations by artist Shevaun Doherty, the ‘tales of hope’ represent people across society, from all sectors and with many different backgrounds, all coming together behind a shared goal to create a landscape where pollinators can survive and thrive.

We know we still have a long way to go to create a pollinator-friendly landscape, but if we have learned anything it is this: what we’re all doing is working – we just need to do more. The stories in this booklet provide vital inspiration in a time of biodiversity crisis and serve as an important reminder that even in the face of pollinator declines, there are many reasons to hope.

A huge thank you to everyone who has taken action for pollinators and has supported the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan over the past five years - this booklet is a celebration of everything you have achieved so far. We look forward to sharing our more ambitious plans for the next phase of the AIPP (2026-2030) very soon. 

You can read '100 Tales of Hope' for free using the link below, or find it on pollinators.ie/resources