A Killarney resident has hit out at the local Municipal District following the mowing of roadside margins which were "teeming" with wildflowers.

Local man Niall Keogh contacted the Killarney Advertiser to express his frustration after council workers cleared green areas around the town earlier this week.

He argued that the timing of the work is devastating for the local bee population, particularly as dandelions serve as a vital early-season food source.

"These green areas were teeming with golden dandelions for the last week or so and now they’ve been decapitated," Mr Keogh stated. "It’s obvious the powers that be have no understanding of the massive importance of the pollen and nectar-rich dandelions for our beleaguered pollinators."

Mr Keogh pointed out that despite the Government declaring a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency in 2019, and the appointment of dedicated Biodiversity Officers, the practice of close-cropping roadside verges continues.

He noted that the recent cold and wet spring has made it even harder for bumblebees emerging from hibernation to find enough energy to survive.
"I wonder if this decision was taken in consultation with the Council's Biodiversity Officer," he added, highlighting a perceived disconnect between official environmental policy and the physical maintenance of the town’s green spaces.
The complaint comes at a time when the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan has urged local authorities to "No Mow Until Late May" to allow native wildflowers to bloom and support declining insect species.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Do you agree with Mr Keogh? Should Killarney Municipal District leave the roadside margins to grow for the sake of biodiversity, or do you prefer the town to have a tidy, mown appearance?
Let us know your thoughts: info@killarneyadvertiser.ie