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Awards for Biodiversity Gardens that Bring Magic of Nature to Children, Schools and Local Communities
A primary school in Meath that has developed the area around the school as an outstanding garden resource for the children and local community has won the Corrin Hill Biodiversity Garden of the Year Award and a primary school in Stillorgan has won the Corrin Hill New Biodiversity School Garden Award. Thirteen other gardens from around the country received awards as excellent examples of how gardens can become havens for biodiversity. The awards are organised by Corrin Hill Ice Cream in association with BirdWatch Ireland and seek to promote gardening that enhances biodiversity and the environment. The winning schools will receive funds to spend on their gardens, a trophy and Corrin Hill ice cream to celebrate the win. All other winners will receive special nest box trophies and school membership of BirdWatch Ireland.
The garden at St. Louis National School in Rathkenny was established in 2007. It includes organic vegetable and fruit gardens, a traditional flower garden, native flower beds, native hedgerows, a wildflower meadow, nature trail, bog garden, a pond, a greenhouse, outdoor classroom, a hedgehog hotel and nest boxes for a wide variety of wildlife including owls, bats, ladybirds and butterflies. The school composts its waste, collects rainwater and has developed a special irrigation system. The garden is very much central to the normal life of the school and is incorporated into many subjects including science, geography, history, English, maths, religion, S.P.H.E., Irish and Visual Arts.
St. Brigid’s School, Stillorgan Dublin is the national winner of the Corrin Hill New Biodiversity School Garden Award. The new garden is being supported with great enthusiasm by the teachers, school children, parents and local community including pre-school children, elderly, scouting and guiding organisations and youth club. The new garden is being laid out to include native trees, walkways, meadows, an orchard, traditional and native flower and herb beds, a pond, nature trail, vegetable gardens, insect hotel and a range of wildlife habitats and nest boxes. Work on the new garden has already enhanced the education and community input to the school and is an outstanding example of what can be achieved within a very short timeframe.
Eight schools from around the country reached the final of the awards and a further seven gardens received awards. The community garden in Castleblakeney, Ballinasloe was highly commended and the judges nominated the garden at the Burren Perfumery in Carron, Co. Clare for a special award – Best Flower Biodiversity Garden Open to the Public.
“Converting the ground around a school into a biodiversity garden that becomes an education resource that benefits the environment and the local community is wonderful. It brings the magic of nature into the day to day life of the school and it is heartening to see so many schools incorporating the ground around the buildings as part of the school and education of the children”, said Thea Murphy from Corrin Hill Ice Cream. “We are delighted to support this project. The voluntary work and time invested by teachers, children, parents and the local community in all these gardens is inspiring. Our winning gardens are outstanding examples of what can be achieved and are real role models to follow”.
Commenting on the awards Oran O’Sullivan of BirdWatch Ireland said, “ the high standard of gardening in the winning schools gives us all hope for the future and can only enhance the biodiversity of our countryside”.
The following gardens received Awards:
Corrin Hill School Biodiversity Garden of the Year 2009 - St. Louis National School, Rathkenny
Corrin Hill New School Biodiversity Garden of the Year 2009 – St. Brigid’s National School, Stillorgan
Special Judges Award – Best Flower Biodiversity Garden 2009 – Burren Perfumery, Co. Clare
Finalists and Highly Commended Corrin Hill Biodiversity Garden Awards 2009.
St. Martin de Porres National School, Aylesbury, Tallaght, Co. Dublin
Scoil Mhainchin National School, Ennistymon, Co. Clare
St. Annin’s National School, Rosscahill, Co. Galway
St. Mary’s National School, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
St. Catherine’s National School, Rush, Co. Meath
Gaelscoil, Cholmcille, Coolock, Dublin
Corrin Hill Biodiversity Gardens of Special Merit Awards 2009
St. Brigid’s National School, Drumcong, Leitrim
Kilskyre National School, Kilskyre, Co. Meath
Cooloo National School, Moylough, Galway
Belmont National School, Tuam, Galway
Drinagh National School, Drinagh, Cork
Castleblakeney Heritage Centre, Castleblakeney, Co. Galway
Residents, Parkmore Estate, Tuam, Galway
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Note to editors:
Corrin Hill Ice Cream is made in Fermoy, Co Cork in the traditional way using fresh local ingredients including milk, cream, sugar and fruit. It is a full dairy ice cream containing only natural ingredients and is free from artificial preservatives. It is available in a variety of flavours and packs at local shops and supermarkets throughout the country.
BirdWatch Ireland is the largest independent conservation organisation in Ireland. Its aim is the conservation of