Britvic Ireland has announced that its Ballygowan facility in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick has become an official Area of Conservation for the Native Irish Honey Bee. The commitment fell on World Bee Day on May 20th, which aims to raise awareness on the importance of pollinators and their contribution to sustainable development and makes Ballygowan the only bottled water company in Ireland that has a commitment to being an Area of Conservation with the National Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS).
The Newcastle West site is the biggest industry in Limerick to have a conservation area that boasts over forty acres of protected land, part of which is used to house five Native Irish Honey Bee colonies as part of the Area of Conservation for the species.
The Native Irish Honey Bee plays a critical role in the pollination of plants and crops, however, research published by the University of Galway in 2023 found that the levels of the native black honeybee are in stark decline due to cross-breeding with non-native imports, also known as hybridisation. According to the research, the rate of hybridisation has risen from five percent to over 12 percent across a five-year period[1].
To support the Native Irish Honey Bee’s survival and prosperity in the Area of Conservation, Britvic Ireland expanded long flowering meadows on the Newcastle West site from just over 2,700 metres squared to nearly 23,000 metres squared in 2022 and has allowed all meadows to grow year-round with overgrown shrubs cut back to enable fresh growth and wildflower development.
Kevin Donnelly, Managing Director, Britvic Ireland commented:
“Sustainability and biodiversity are central to our operations at Britvic Ireland. I am delighted that our Ballygowan production facility at Newcastle West is now an official Area of Conservation for the Native Irish Honey Bee.
By its nature, Ballygowan has always been attuned to the importance of our environment, and as a company, we recognise the critical role that biodiversity holds in contributing to our ecosystem.
Without key pollinators, we would be without the fruits and flavours that are carefully crafted into some of our best-loved products. With this certification, we make another step of progress in our biodiversity commitment, with Ballygowan now recognised as the only bottled water company in Ireland that has committed to being an Area of Conservation with the NIHBS, which we are very proud of.”
The certification plays a role in Britvic Ireland’s drive for 100% sustainability across the business, under Britvic Ireland’s Healthier People, Healthier Planet strategy, and follows from previous sustainability commitments actioned by the business, including a Customer Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (CPPA) which means the Ballygowan bottling site is powered by renewable electricity from a nearby windfarm in Co. Tipperary.
As members of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, Britvic Ireland will be participating in ‘No Mow May’, which is an annual campaign that encourages the natural growth of flora by refraining from cutting grassy areas to help native wildlife. With one-third of Irish wild bees currently under threat of extinction according to the National Biodiversity Data Centre[2], No Mow May offers an opportunity to allow vital vegetation to grow and provide nutrients for pollinators to survive.
Britvic Ireland is also running several beekeeping classes at the five honeybee colonies at Newcastle West and will provide educational and well-being programmes across its workforce. Britvic will also be delivering Ballygowan observation hives to local schools and the wider community in an effort to extend awareness of the importance of the Native Irish Honey Bee.
