Ballyhoura Development recently travelled to Bremen, Germany, as part of the PolliConnect project, joining European partners to share knowledge, explore innovative pollinator-friendly practices, and strengthen future actions that will benefit communities, farmers, landowners, and biodiversity across the Ballyhoura area.

Hosted by the Ministry for Environment, Climate and Science – Free Hanseatic City of Bremen on April 22nd and 23rd, the meeting brought together partners from Ireland, Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, all working collaboratively to tackle the decline in wild pollinator populations.

Co-funded through the Interreg North-West Europe Programme, PolliConnect aims to improve pollinator biodiversity across pilot regions by enhancing the management of grasslands, wetlands, hedgerows, and flower-rich habitats, while also supporting greater community awareness and involvement in pollinator protection.

The partner meeting provided an opportunity to review project progress, exchange ideas and practical experiences, and test a new citizen science pollinator monitoring scheme. This initiative will allow people living near PolliConnect Living Lab sites to actively participate in monitoring pollinator numbers and biodiversity, helping communities become more connected to the health of their local environment.

For the Ballyhoura area, initiatives like this are important in supporting more sustainable land management practices, improving biodiversity, and helping to create healthier landscapes for both wildlife and people. Pollinators play a vital role in food production, ecosystem health, and the resilience of rural environments, making their protection increasingly important for local communities and landowners alike.

As part of the visit, participants toured Living Lab sites, including Kaemena Farm, where they explored innovative approaches to creating bee-friendly landscapes through collaboration between farmers and scientists. The visit showcased how practical farming methods can successfully support pollinator habitats alongside productive land use.

Partners also attended a demonstration of the Brielmaier mower, an ecologically sensitive mowing system designed to reduce impacts on insects while promoting healthier regrowth of grasslands. Techniques such as these highlight how relatively small changes in land management can make a significant difference for biodiversity.

The knowledge and insights gained during the trip will help inform future PolliConnect activities within the Ballyhoura area, supporting local efforts to protect and restore pollinator populations while encouraging greater awareness and participation among communities, farmers, and landowners.

Ballyhoura Development is proud to be part of this collaborative European initiative working towards more resilient, biodiverse, and pollinator-friendly landscapes for the future.