Write a commentNine schools in the Newry area will receive a total of £24,636 from the DOE’s Challenge Fund to help them complete projects that will improve their local environment.
Environment Minister Mark H Durkan announced the funding this week after in June past inviting applications from community groups and schools to carry out projects.
St. Joseph's (Meigh), St. Mary's (Newry), Dromintee Primary Schools and St. Paul's High School (Bessbrook) will collaborate with Ring of Gullion AONB to deliver their “'StreamScapes Gullion Waters & Wilds'” project. This hands-on educational programme will engage participants in theory sessions as well as a 'hands-on' aquatic survey of the biodiversity within the local aquatic environment.
Funding for a further five schools will support them in getting their pupils outdoors to enjoy the area’s rich natural environment. The five schools will engage in a variety of activities including developing their gardens to increase biodiversity, delivering educational programmes and woodland pathway creation.
Announcing the successful projects Mark H Durkan said: “It is fantastic to see the passion that our young people have in the protection and enhancement of the environment. I am delighted that my Department is able to provide a boost for these nine schools in the Newry area. St Brigid's Primary School’s woodland pathway will be a great asset in promoting the community’s access to their natural environment. I also wish to commend the three primary schools and St Paul’s High School who will join forces to deliver an exciting educational programme on the area’s rich aquatic environment.
“This investment in children and young people is vital, not only for the local environment and wider community in the present, but for generations to come.”
The Minister continued: “I pledged that the 5p levy on carrier bags would be ploughed back into the environment. The Challenge Fund is one way of doing that.
“I commend all the Challenge Fund applicants for their desire to carry out real environmental action within their communities, and I am looking forward to seeing the outcomes of these 32 schools projects in the coming months.”
The Schools and the Projects
St Brigid's Primary School, Newry £4,000
Creation of path for Glassdrumman wood - This project will enable the school, in partnership with the local community and the Ring of Gullion AONB project, to develop and create a pathway which will improve access to a local wooded area. This will enable the local community to enjoy their rich local environment.
Cloughoge Primary School and Nursery Unit, Newry £2,700
Creating an outdoor classroom - Development of an outdoor classroom, meadowland area and equipping of a Poly tunnel for curricular work.
Bunscoil an Iúir, Newry £3,990
Club Iarscoil Bhunscoil an Iúir - An Club Glas - A programme of environmental education. Linked to this will be the development of resources which will be placed within the school grounds that will greatly encourage biodiversity.
Mullaglass Primary School, Newry £3,000
Mullaglass Garden - The development of an environmental education garden within the school grounds. This garden will be designed to maximise biodiversity and to increase the pupil's exposure to the natural environment.
Grange Primary School, Kilkeel £2,546
Eco-Schools Sensory Garden & Green Community Space - The project will see the establishment of a sensory garden area and the rejuvenation of an area within the school grounds which is currently overgrown. Oxford Island Environmental Education staff will work on Environmental Education Projects with specific classes into biodiversity, plant & animal habitats and the environment.
St. Mary's P.S. Newry (£1,500), Dromintee Primary School (£1,500), St. Paul's High School Bessbrook (£4,000) and St. Joseph's P.S., Meigh, Killeavy (£1,400)
'StreamScapes Gullion Waters & Wilds' – These four schools will avail of a StreamScapes project in the Ring of Gullion region which involves participants in practical educational sessions on the biodiversity which the local water quality supports. This joint proposal will see the development of a StreamScapes Gullion’ booklet to be distributed to the local community.
