SuperValu partners with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan to bring Save The Bees Campaign to schools around Ireland

SuperValu is helping to create over 3,000 refuelling spots for busy bees in schools across the country

SuperValu and Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD have today launched the Save The Bees Campaign in partnership with the All-Ireland Pollinator plan and SuperValu TidyTowns. All 3,241 primary schools in Ireland will be sent a SuperValu Save the Bees Pollinator Pack so they can create their own bee-friendly garden.  

This SuperValu Save the Bees Pollinator Pack was co-created with Dr Una Fitzpatrick, Head of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and is endorsed by SuperValu TidyTowns. It contains guidebooks, posters and bookmarks in addition to a pollinator-friendly garden kit with native seeds and a garden sign. All elements of the Save the Bees Pollinator pack have been sustainably sourced and are recyclable.   

To further promote awareness and action, families will receive their own Save the Bees cards in SuperValu with every spend over €30. These cards are added to each school’s Save the Bees poster, which, once completed, can be entered into a draw to win a share of €50,000 for the school.  

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD said “Protecting our pollinators helps in turn to protect our planet which is why I am thrilled to launch the SuperValu Save the Bees campaign. Educating our children and communities about the importance of pollinators is vitally important and I look forward to seeing bee-friendly school gardens pop up across the country in the coming weeks and months.”  

Through the Save the Bees campaign, SuperValu will work with schools and communities across Ireland to help educate people on the very real and current threat facing Ireland’s bees. As it stands, nearly one-third of Irish bees are in danger of becoming extinct. The loss of such a large portion of our bee population would be catastrophic. More than 75 per cent of our plant species are animal pollinated. Bees are important pollinators of Irish produce like strawberries and apples and they ensure diverse wild plant communities across the countryside that help regulate climate, provide healthy spaces for recreation, and support other wildlife.  

Commenting on the campaign, Ian Allen, SuperValu Managing Director said  

“At SuperValu, we are huge supporters of Irish producers and suppliers. We source 75 per cent of our goods in Ireland, and we want to keep buying and supporting Irish and local, which is why we are so committed to protecting pollinators. We are delighted to work with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan to make change through our Save the Bees campaign. There are simple steps we can all take to make Ireland a habitable ecosystem for bees and our SuperValu Save The Bees packs will provide support awareness, education and action for children across the country. This initiative will also give children the fantastic opportunity to win a share of €50,000 for their primary school.” 

SuperValu want to help local communities, schools and families lead the way in creating an Ireland where pollinators can thrive. It is vital that bees and pollinators have enough to forage and safe places to use for nesting, among vegetation, the soil and hedges. The SuperValu Save the Bees campaign will not only help schools understand pollinators and how to protect them but also help them make Ireland more pollinator friendly.  

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition also recognises the value and importance of biodiversity. Nearly half (46 per cent) of all TidyTowns committees say that biodiversity is their main priority area. More than 200 SuperValu TidyTowns committees have engaged with the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and made their local areas significantly pollinator friendly. In 2021, Buncrana, Co. Donegal won the SuperValu TidyTowns’ All Ireland Pollinator Plan Local Authority Pollinator Award.  

The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD continued “The Save the Bees campaign is a great addition to the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition which continues to bring biodiversity and sustainability to the fore. Committees around the country have been rewilding spaces and creating new green areas in our communities, not only helping our pollinators but improving our shared spaces for the whole community.”  

Dr. Una Fitzpatrick, Head of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan included,  

“The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is our opportunity to step forward and take action to save Ireland’s bee population from the threat of serious decline. This is why we’re delighted to partner with SuperValu for the ‘Save the Bees’ campaign, which is about educating ourselves and playing an effective role in saving our garden allies. We look forward to seeing the great impact that children across Ireland’s primary schools will have in helping to create a better future for bees.” 

Professor Jane Stout, Deputy Chair of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan said  

“While bees are busy collecting nectar and pollen from flowers to feed themselves and their families, they disperse pollen that enables plants to produce fruits and seeds. These are essential to maintain plant communities and beautiful landscapes, as well as supporting other wildlife, including birds, mammals and other insects. In addition, fruits and seeds contribute to a huge amount of the world’s food supply, with more than 75 per cent of leading food crops benefitting from animal pollination. We can help reverse the decline in bees by doing something as simple as returning the favour and making sure their habitats are rich with flowers to forage on and free of harmful threats, which is why this SuperValu Save the Bees campaign is so important.” 

SuperValu is one of Ireland’s leading food retailers with 223 stores nationwide serving over 2.6 million customers every week. SuperValu has served the people of Ireland for over 30 years and has become a well-established landmark across Irish communities. 

Together with its retail partners, SuperValu employs approximately 15,900 colleagues, making it one of the State's largest private-sector employers. SuperValu continues to source locally wherever possible, which helps to sustain 30,000 jobs in the Irish economy. 

For more information on the SuperValu Save the Bees campaign visit https://supervalu.ie/real-people/save-the-bees 

  

-ENDS- 

For further information:  

Dan Ryan, FleishmanHillard T: 087 753 2995 or E: dan.ryan@fleishmaneurope.com  

Caoimhe Butler, FleishmanHillard T: 085 1113766 or E: caoimhe.butler@fleishmaneurope.com  

  

Note to editors:  

All-Ireland Pollinator Plan 

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan is a shared plan of action which aims to help restore pollinator populations to healthy levels. The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan was conceived on the back of scientific research into bee decline. This research continues through an open network of pollinator researchers committed to building the evidence base for pollinator conservation and management in Ireland. The first All-Ireland Pollinator Plan (2015-2020) was initiated by Dr Úna FitzPatrick (National Biodiversity Data Centre) and Prof. Jane Stout (Trinity College Dublin), and then developed by a 15-member All-Ireland steering group. The second version of the AIPP (2021 – 2025) builds on the success of the first phase and identifies a total of 186 actions.  

For more, see: https://pollinators.ie/research/