July 2, 2024
Sowing sunflowers, spotting butterflies and creating bug houses were just a few of the activities undertaken by local children in Co Leitrim who took part in a school biodiversity programme during the summer term. They also captured their green-fingered work on camera to enter a nature photography competition.
Around 240 local children from six primary schools in northwest Leitrim rolled up their sleeves for the Biodiversity in Schools initiative, which was sponsored by FuturEnergy Ireland. Each school received a Bosca Dúlra (nature box), which was packed with seeds, activities and worksheets, and took part in tailored biodiversity workshops.
The FuturEnergy Ireland team presented the five lucky winners of the nature photo competition with a Samsung Galaxy tablet each at a ceremony at Manorhamilton Castle. Congratulations to the winners, Mya Corrigan, St Clare's National School, Manorhamilton; P.J. McCafferty, Ballaghameehan National School, Conray; Faith and Rachel Demangeat, Masterson National School, Manorhamilton; Labhra Cloghessy, Gaelscoil Chluainin, Manorhamilton; and Lee Dillon, Scoil Mhic Diarmad, Kittyclogher.
Some schools made ‘grow, don’t mow’ areas, grew veggies and planted wildflower meadows while children created imaginative nature artwork and journals. There was much excitement as to who would grow the tallest sunflower! Many schools set home-based biodiversity projects, including Scoil Mhic Diarmada, whose pupils created minibeast hotels from recycled and natural materials and watched the insects and bugs set up home. Other innovative home projects included making bird houses and butterfly wind chimes, planting trees and nurturing nettles.
The nature boxes offered a creative, interactive way for children to learn about biodiversity and the environment, explains Fidelma Fox is a teacher at St Clare’s National School in Manorhamilton. “We in St Clare’s were delighted to be part of this initiative. We used the Bosca Dúlra in school and continued with home projects. Children were planting seeds and documenting the growing process by writing reports and taking photographs,” she said.
“Mya Corrigan, the prize-winner for our school, chose wildflowers as her focus. She hopes to attract more bees and butterflies to her garden. This was a wonderful, practical hands-on project which encouraged full participation. It encouraged children to appreciate the role we all play in our community in the area of biodiversity. Sincere thanks to Tom, Eamonn and Micheal for visiting our school and delivering informative workshops.”
FuturEnergy Ireland’s local Community Liaison Officers, Eamonn Keavney and Tom Costello, and Community Engagement Manager Niall Barrett, were extremely impressed with the quality of work produced and the enthusiasm of the teachers and pupils.
“We were delighted to work with all the schools in the area over the past few months on this initiative,” said Niall, who organised the biodiversity programme. The young people involved went above and beyond what was asked of them and the quality of the submissions to our photo competition blew us away. It was great to see young people taking such a keen interest in the environment and local biodiversity.”
Main image: competition winners P.J. McCafferty, Ballaghameehan NS; Faith Demangeat, Masterson NS; Mya Corrigan, St Clare's NS; Rachel Demangeat, Masterson NS; Labhra Cloghessy, Gaelscoil Chluainin; and Lee Dillon, Scoil Mhic Diarmad, Kittyclogher.
About FuturEnergy Ireland
FuturEnergy Ireland is a joint venture company owned on a 50:50 basis by Coillte and ESB that is actively driving Ireland’s transition to a low carbon economy. The company is seeking to develop more than 1GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 and make a significant and positive contribution to Ireland’s commitment to reduce its emissions and produce 80% of electricity from renewable sources by the end of this decade. www.futurenergyireland.ie
Press queries
For press queries, please contact Janine Thomas, Communications and Media Manager at FuturEnergy Ireland, on Janine.thomas@futurenergyireland.ie
