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Register Your DCs For Bees Orchard
DCs for Bees
'Orchards In The Community'
Orchards In The Community is part of the DCs for Bees initiative. Orchards play a key role in providing an early food source for our struggling bees as they emerge from winter. To help protect the bees and increase pollination, we are planting in excess of 1,000 mixed fruit orchards all over Ireland.
'We want to better coexist with biodiversity and help return food and shelter for pollinators to our island.'
All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025
DCs for Bees Orchards & Resources
Our Aim
Encourage Biodiversity
Orchards are classified as ‘Priority Habitats’. This is because they make ideal homes for thousands of species of flora and fauna, including lichens, fungi and beetles.
To
Protect & Feed Pollinators
Fruit trees blossom early in the year, providing an important food source for our pollinators at the end of winter.
The deliberate spacing between trees also lets more sunlight in, which is welcome for flying insects, like butterflies and bees, who need warmth to power their flight muscles.
Community Awareness & Action
We will provide a means for organisation & community purpose based activity which will foster an appreciation of, and awareness for, protecting and encouraging biodiverse habitats in our local areas.
The Role of Orchards
Orchards have played an important role in communities for many centuries, providing a focal point, a gathering space, and a place where people and nature successfully work together to create abundant harvests.
Orchards provide vital green spaces in our cities and towns, where people are encouraged to interact with nature either through becoming custodians of the trees or by simply being around them and enjoying their shade, beauty and fruit.
Measuring Success
Working in collaboration with the National Biodiversity Data Centre, this project will enable Ireland for the first time to track concurrent pollination success. Something that is only made possible by planting the same orchards in multiple locations in the one growing season (Nov 2021 - March 2022).
Please register your orchard(s) with the National Biodiversity Data Centre Here
How to apply for Free DCs for Bees Community Orchard
We have a limited number of DCs for Bees Orchards available free of charge for planting in communities and towns around Ireland.
We are currently taking expressions of interest from Community Organisations, Charity
Groups, Schools, Nursing Homes and Individuals who are in a position to take and plant 10 or more Orchards from our Community Pot.
Each DCs for Bees Orchard comprises of 5 trees - 3 x Apple (Discovery, Boskoop, Katy), 1 x Pear (Conference) & 1 x Plum (Victoria).
While it is not necessary to plant all 50 trees together, we would ask, to ensure effective pollination, that each Orchard bundle of 5 trees be planted in proximity to each other. The trees should ideally be planted approx. 2 - 3 m apart (within bee flying distance!).
Our Community Pot Orchards will be dispatched in February 2022.
If you think you would be in a position to take 10 or more of our DCs for Bees mixed fruit Orchards, please email us at: orchards@hostinireland.com
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Orchard Questions
How will my DCs for Bees Orchard be dispatched?
Orchards are being dispatched to delivery locations by courier
How will I know when my Orchard will be delivered?
An email with full delivery details will be sent to each DCs for Bees Orchard recipient the week before dispatch.
When are the DCs for Bees Orchards being dispatched?
Our DCs for Bees Orchards will be dispatched in two stages – November 2021 and February 2022.
We are taking DCs for Bees Orchards from the Community Pot, when will we receive them?
Your Community Pot Orchards will be dispatched in either November 2021 or February 2022. You will recieve an email lettinng you know which delivery window in advance.
November Deliveries – Pallets of 10+ Orchards ONLY
Due to courier constraints pre Christmas, only pallet deliveries of 10 or more Orchards to single locations can be facilitated in November.
A minimum of 10 Orchards (50 trees) can be accommodated on a pallet.
An email will be sent to each recipient the week before dispatch.
February 2022 Deliveries
Individual orchards and grouped bundles of between 2 - 9 orchards will be
dispatched during the first 2 weeks of February 2022.
Large orders (10 or more orchards) can also be delivered if preferred.
Q&A's
Planting Questions
How do I plant my DCs for Bees Orchard?
How soon after I receive them should I plant my DCs for Bees Orchard?
The trees should ideally be planted within a week of arrival, but would be okay for 2 weeks provided they are left in a cold position and not indoors or in a shed.
What extras will I need to plant my DCs for Bees Orchard?
Tree stake (optional but preferred)
Strap to secure tree to stake (optional but preferred)
Spade
Multipurpose compost
If your planting area has a lot of rabbits or deer nearby, tree guards or fencing may be required until the Orchard has matured.
Download one of our signage templates (and personalise it with your own logo) to highlight your involvement and show how Orchards make a difference for our pollinators .
Can I plant my DCs for Bees Orchard trees in pots?
Yes, the Orchard trees can be planted in large containers but remember, if you limit the roots, you limit the height that the tree will grow.
What maintenance is required immediately after planning?
What long term maintenance do the DCs for Bees Orchards require?
Try and keep weeds away from the base without strimming any of the bark off the lower trunk of the trees.
Dispatch & Delivery Questions
How will my DCs for Bees Orchard be dispatched?
Orchards are being dispatched to delivery locations by courier
How will I know when my Orchard will be delivered?
An email with full delivery details will be sent to each DCs for Bees Orchard recipient the week before dispatch.
When are the DCs for Bees Orchards being dispatched?
Our DCs for Bees Orchards will be dispatched in two stages – November 2021 and February 2022.
We are taking DCs for Bees Orchards from the Community Pot, when will we receive them?
Your Community Pot Orchards will be dispatched in either November 2021 or February 2022. You will recieve an email lettinng you know which delivery window in advance.
November Deliveries – Pallets of 10+ Orchards ONLY
Due to courier constraints pre Christmas, only pallet deliveries of 10 or more Orchards to single locations can be facilitated in November.
A minimum of 10 Orchards (50 trees) can be accommodated on a pallet.
An email will be sent to each recipient the week before dispatch.
February 2022 Deliveries
Individual orchards and grouped bundles of between 2 - 9 orchards will be
dispatched during the first 2 weeks of February 2022.
Large orders (10 or more orchards) can also be delivered if preferred.