Northside pupils go wild for biodiversity

STUDENTS from a number of Ballymun primary schools
have been busy getting their hands dirty outdoors over the last year as part of
a special programme encouraging children to protect their local parks.

Pupils from St Joseph’s Senior National School,
Gaelscoil Ballymunna and Holy Spirit Girls School all took part in the
initiative to enhance parks in Balcurris, Coultry and Poppintree.

Some of the activities involved included planting
native Irish trees, summer and winter bulbs, creating butterfly gardens and
designing art in the park out of biodegradable materials.

The children also went on educational nature trails
and examined biodiversity in other parks and gardens including Santry Forest.

The Park Stewardship Programme was developed by local
environmental group Global Action Plan, which also linked in with other
community groups like the Ballymun Tidy Towns Committee and local community
gardaí.

Aoife Flynn, Youth Coordinator with Global Action
Plan, said the aim of the programme is to engage local schoolchildren in
supporting the long-term care and protection of their local parks.

“It is vital to connect young people in urban areas
with their local environment,

? she said.

Third class students at St Joseph’s Senior National
school were presented with certificates for successfully completing the
programme at an awards event last week.