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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, this winter with YOUR help we have planted over 2,700 mixed fruit orchards all over Ireland.
The orchards were planted by our Host in Ireland Partners and other interested companies, in collaboration with community groups, schools and organisations throughout Ireland.
Now in November 2023, we are hoping to repeat the process again!
DCs for Bees
'Orchards In The Community 2023'
The success of the Orchards In The Community project has been so overwhelming that we have recently decided to roll the project forward into the planting season starting in November 2023.
We increased the target from 2000 mixed fruit tree orchards to 3500 – the equivalent of 17,500 fruit trees right across the country!
Watch this video to learn more about the impact of this initiative
'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 important 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.
How to apply for a Free DCs for Bees Community Orchard
All Community Pot Orchards for the past dormant season have now been allocated.
The project will run again in November 2023 dormant season, if you would like to register your interest and be in a position to take 10 or more of our DCs for Bees mixed fruit Orchards, please submit this application form.
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) and (Nov 2022-March 2023).
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How many trees are in my DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our mixed fruit DCs for Bees Orchard comprises of 5 trees.
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What type of fruit trees are in the DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are made up of 3 Apple trees (Discovery, Katy & Boskoop), a pear tree (Conference) and a plum tree (Victoria).
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Can I choose different trees in my DCs for Bees Orchard bundle?Sorry, there are no variations available to our DCs for Bees Orchard bundle.
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How much space do I need to plant a DCs for Bees Orchard?Each tree needs to be planted 6ft-9ft (1.8m-2.7m) apart. In order to ensure successful pollination, the trees must be planted in proximity to each other - the pear & plum tree are self pollinators but the apples need each other to successfully flower and bear fruit. Remember it's orchards that we're planting - so the trees should be together.
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How big will my DCs for Bees Orchard grow?If not pruned, each of the apple trees in the will grow to approx 10 - 12 ft in height and approx 6 ft wide The plum and pear will grow between 10 - 14ft and approx. 6 ft wide. The final height of the trees will depend on soil conditions. The site, wind and salt air can all play a role.
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What type of rootstock are the DCs for Bees Orchards?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are semi dwarf trees on M26 Rootstock
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What Pollination Group do the DCs for Bees Orchards belong to?All five fruit trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards are in Pollination Group 3. They are compatible with each other for maximum pollination.
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How old are the trees when they are delivered?Each of the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchard are two year old trees.
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How tall will the trees be when they arrive?Each of the trees will be approx. 5-6ft tall on delivery
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How are the DCs for Bees Orchards wrapped and what size will each bundle be?The DCs for Bees Orchards are wrapped in bundles of 5 and the diameter of the wrapped roots will be approx 6" x 6" (should fit in most cars if needed). Each Orchard bundle is light enough to easily lift and carry.
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Are the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards labelled?Each tree is labelled with a 'tree passport' tag. This tag includes the tree variety, colour and fruit detail. Each tag also has a DCs for Bees QR code which will bring you directly to our website www.orchards.ie so you can easily register your DCs for Bees Orchard.
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Measuring Success - The National Biodiversity Data Centres Pollination CountThe aim of the Orchard Project is to encourage biodiversity and protect & feed our pollinators. In order to measure its success, the National Biodiversity Data Centre will be establishing a 'Pollination Service' count. Each person who plants an Orchard is asked to, once a year, go out and record the number of apples, plums or pears growing on the trees and upload this count onto the National Biodiversity Data Centre website. This Pollination Service can only be conducted when the same species of trees are planted during the same dormant window in various locations around the country. This 'like-for-like' count will give, for the first time in Ireland, an accurate picture on the levels of pollination across the country.
Q&A's
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How many trees are in my DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our mixed fruit DCs for Bees Orchard comprises of 5 trees.
-
What type of fruit trees are in the DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are made up of 3 Apple trees (Discovery, Katy & Boskoop), a pear tree (Conference) and a plum tree (Victoria).
-
Can I choose different trees in my DCs for Bees Orchard bundle?Sorry, there are no variations available to our DCs for Bees Orchard bundle.
-
How much space do I need to plant a DCs for Bees Orchard?Each tree needs to be planted 6ft-9ft (1.8m-2.7m) apart. In order to ensure successful pollination, the trees must be planted in proximity to each other - the pear & plum tree are self pollinators but the apples need each other to successfully flower and bear fruit. Remember it's orchards that we're planting - so the trees should be together.
-
How big will my DCs for Bees Orchard grow?If not pruned, each of the apple trees in the will grow to approx 10 - 12 ft in height and approx 6 ft wide The plum and pear will grow between 10 - 14ft and approx. 6 ft wide. The final height of the trees will depend on soil conditions. The site, wind and salt air can all play a role.
-
What type of rootstock are the DCs for Bees Orchards?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are semi dwarf trees on M26 Rootstock
-
What Pollination Group do the DCs for Bees Orchards belong to?All five fruit trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards are in Pollination Group 3. They are compatible with each other for maximum pollination.
-
How old are the trees when they are delivered?Each of the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchard are two year old trees.
-
How tall will the trees be when they arrive?Each of the trees will be approx. 5-6ft tall on delivery
-
How are the DCs for Bees Orchards wrapped and what size will each bundle be?The DCs for Bees Orchards are wrapped in bundles of 5 and the diameter of the wrapped roots will be approx 6" x 6" (should fit in most cars if needed). Each Orchard bundle is light enough to easily lift and carry.
-
Are the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards labelled?Each tree is labelled with a 'tree passport' tag. This tag includes the tree variety, colour and fruit detail. Each tag also has a DCs for Bees QR code which will bring you directly to our website www.orchards.ie so you can easily register your DCs for Bees Orchard.
-
Measuring Success - The National Biodiversity Data Centres Pollination CountThe aim of the Orchard Project is to encourage biodiversity and protect & feed our pollinators. In order to measure its success, the National Biodiversity Data Centre will be establishing a 'Pollination Service' count. Each person who plants an Orchard is asked to, once a year, go out and record the number of apples, plums or pears growing on the trees and upload this count onto the National Biodiversity Data Centre website. This Pollination Service can only be conducted when the same species of trees are planted during the same dormant window in various locations around the country. This 'like-for-like' count will give, for the first time in Ireland, an accurate picture on the levels of pollination across the country.
-
How many trees are in my DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our mixed fruit DCs for Bees Orchard comprises of 5 trees.
-
What type of fruit trees are in the DCs for Bees Orchard Bundle?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are made up of 3 Apple trees (Discovery, Katy & Boskoop), a pear tree (Conference) and a plum tree (Victoria).
-
Can I choose different trees in my DCs for Bees Orchard bundle?Sorry, there are no variations available to our DCs for Bees Orchard bundle.
-
How much space do I need to plant a DCs for Bees Orchard?Each tree needs to be planted 6ft-9ft (1.8m-2.7m) apart. In order to ensure successful pollination, the trees must be planted in proximity to each other - the pear & plum tree are self pollinators but the apples need each other to successfully flower and bear fruit. Remember it's orchards that we're planting - so the trees should be together.
-
How big will my DCs for Bees Orchard grow?If not pruned, each of the apple trees in the will grow to approx 10 - 12 ft in height and approx 6 ft wide The plum and pear will grow between 10 - 14ft and approx. 6 ft wide. The final height of the trees will depend on soil conditions. The site, wind and salt air can all play a role.
-
What type of rootstock are the DCs for Bees Orchards?Our DCs for Bees Orchards are semi dwarf trees on M26 Rootstock
-
What Pollination Group do the DCs for Bees Orchards belong to?All five fruit trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards are in Pollination Group 3. They are compatible with each other for maximum pollination.
-
How old are the trees when they are delivered?Each of the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchard are two year old trees.
-
How tall will the trees be when they arrive?Each of the trees will be approx. 5-6ft tall on delivery
-
How are the DCs for Bees Orchards wrapped and what size will each bundle be?The DCs for Bees Orchards are wrapped in bundles of 5 and the diameter of the wrapped roots will be approx 6" x 6" (should fit in most cars if needed). Each Orchard bundle is light enough to easily lift and carry.
-
Are the trees in the DCs for Bees Orchards labelled?Each tree is labelled with a 'tree passport' tag. This tag includes the tree variety, colour and fruit detail. Each tag also has a DCs for Bees QR code which will bring you directly to our website www.orchards.ie so you can easily register your DCs for Bees Orchard.
-
Measuring Success - The National Biodiversity Data Centres Pollination CountThe aim of the Orchard Project is to encourage biodiversity and protect & feed our pollinators. In order to measure its success, the National Biodiversity Data Centre will be establishing a 'Pollination Service' count. Each person who plants an Orchard is asked to, once a year, go out and record the number of apples, plums or pears growing on the trees and upload this count onto the National Biodiversity Data Centre website. This Pollination Service can only be conducted when the same species of trees are planted during the same dormant window in various locations around the country. This 'like-for-like' count will give, for the first time in Ireland, an accurate picture on the levels of pollination across the country.