Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew and Monivea Tidy Towns are two local beneficiaries of this year’s ‘Orchards in the Community’ green scheme.
Now in its third successive year, the ‘Orchards in the Community’ initiative is part of the DC (Data Centres ) for Bees Pollinator Plan which aims to ‘save Ireland’s declining bee population’, ensuring the survival of bees and other endangered species of flying insects and butterflies. Despite being a key contributor to the pollination of Irish plants, 33 per cent of bees are facing extinction.
The DC for Bees Pollinator Plan was launched in 2021 by Host in Ireland, an organisation which promotes Irish digital infrastructure and promotes the country as a ‘centre of data excellence, and is partnered by 48 companies across the data centre industry.
Multinational digital automation leader, Schneider Electric, which have an Irish base in Ballybrit Business Park have contributed to the scheme, sponsoring a total of 500 orchards, equating to 2500 trees over the course of three planting years.
This year alone, Schneider have sponsored a further 100 orchards consisting of three apple trees, a plum tree, and a pear tree in each orchard.
Two local communities were amongst the list of communities benefiting from the orchard planting, Monivea Tidy Towns committee and Holy Rosary College, Mountbellew.
Saving Irish bees
“Orchards are a focal point for communities to connect people with nature. Growing orchards in the community helps raise awareness of our connection to our food sources and play an important role in biodiversity and the plight of bees in Ireland,” said Garry Connolly, founder, Host in Ireland.
“That spirit of community is alive and well with ‘Orchards in the Community’ as organisations like Schneider Electric come together with biodiversity groups, schools, colleges, Tidy Towns and others across Ireland to tackle challenges like biodiversity loss to save Ireland’s pollinators.”
“We’re proud to once again be partnering with Host Ireland and sponsoring the Orchards in the Community initiative and increase our support for its leading sustainability initiative” said Mark Yeeles, VP, Secure Power Division, Schneider Electric UK and Ireland “Driving sustainable change which can be seen within the community is at the heart of our organisation, and we hope the orchards will create holistic ecosystems which will be beneficial for many years and generations to come”.
