Navan taking the roundabout approach to bee conservation

Navan Tidy Towns Committee is hoping to do its bid to save our native bees.

The group is planning to provide beehives on two of the town's roundabouts.

Cllr Francis Deane, a member if the Navan Municipal District Tidy Towns Committee, raised the issue at a meeting of the Municipal District last week seeking permission to install beehives on two roundabouts, the Andy Connolly roundabout at the Athboy Road and also the roundabout at Kilcarn at exit 8, off the motorway.

He said the proposal stemmed from the importance of pollinators and it would be a great way to boost the local bee population.

"Both these roundabout already have plenty of shrubbery creating much needed habitats for biodiversity and pollinating insects.

"We would intend to put the hives in the middle of the shrubbery so it wouldn't interfere with maintenance of the roundabouts.

"We have engaged with professionals who would look after the hives and harvest the honey, but the mosdt important thing was to get permission," he said.

Cllr Deane said that it is very common in England to locate hives on busy roundabouts.

"You have roundabouts where thousands and thousands of cars pass each day and the bees just get on with their lives.

"I believe we should try this as a pilot scheme," he said.

At last week's meeting officials said there was no objection in principle to the installation of beehives on the two roundabouts.

The Tidy Towns Committee was advised to contact the District Engineer to agree the size and location of the beehives, as well as arrangements for their installation, due to safety issues with accessing the roundabouts.

Both roundabouts are also part of the Roundabout Sponsorship scheme, and if this sponsorship is renewed in 2021, the agreement of the sponsors would be required.

The National Tidy Towns competition now features a special Pollinator Award to create awareness of pollinators and increase pollinator-friendly habitats right across the country.

Meanwhile, Meath County Council has signed up as partners to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan and a framework agreement with the National Biodiversity Data Centre to undertake actions to support pollinators in County Meath.

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a cross-sector initiative, led by the National Biodiversity Data Centre, with local authorities, farmers, businesses, schools and local communities to support pollinators such as bees. Ireland depends on pollinating insects to pollinate our crops, fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, many of our pollinators are now threatened with extinction.