Codd: A Plan to increase the bee population in County Wexford

Cllr Jim Codd has said that he intends to bring local bee keepers, environmentalists, the men’s shed movement and Wexford County Council together to dramatically increase the bee population in County Wexford over the next five years. The Aontu rep said that bees were vital to Irelands agricultural industry and were estimated to be worth €85 million to the economy per annum.

“It’s my intention to bring the expertise of Wexfords bee keepers to the general public,” Cllr Codd said. “We are lucky enough to live in a very rural area. The Rosslare LEA in particular still contains very open countryside and an average of a quarter of an acre per household. We are in an ideal situation to find homes for more bee hives.”

“I have spoken to many people already who are interested in becoming hosts for beehives. What they need is training, which we could deliver through a group of bee experts, and then the physical hives, which we hope to construct with the help of volunteers from the Mens Shed movement.”

“Bees are the most important pollinator of crops and native plant species in Ireland. About one third of our 101 native bee species are facing extinction. This plan would be an immediate positive environmental step and would create a whole new generation of bee keepers.”