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Clare County Council has announced that Shannon Municipal District is supporting the 'An Choill Bheag' initiative, which will see 800 native trees being planted in 2024.
The trees are being planted at four locations as part of a collaborative effort with An Taisce and a number of national schools in Shannon. It is a grassroots approach to educating young school goers, through an outdoor living classroom, of the importance of trees and highlighting the very real issue of climate change and biodiversity loss.
Cathaoirleach of Shannon MD, Cllr Donna McGettigan, stated: "Shannon Municipal District is providing the funding for native trees such as oak, alder, whitethorn and holly and it is so encouraging to see the enthusiasm of the children around planning, planting and future care of the new habitat."
LEAF Ireland stated that it is delighted to be working with Clare County Council, Shannon Municipal District, and a number of schools in the Shannon area to plant the trees, as part of the An Choill Bheag initiative. An Choill Bheag is an initiative of LEAF Ireland and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce.
On 1 February, students from St. John's National School in Shannon planted 200 native trees in the green area near their school. This helps with climate and biodiversity issues and creates an outdoor learning space for students and the community. Before Christmas, the students mapped out the planting area and chose which trees to plant.
In the coming weeks, students will return to care for the newly planted trees. They will mulch the area to prevent grass growth and retain soil moisture. Later in spring, they will learn how to care for the habitat, and educational signs will be set up.
Rachel Geary from LEAF Ireland said: "Climate change is the biggest issue facing us at the moment. This collaborative initiative with Shannon Municipal District provides an opportunity to tackle climate change at a community level by planting trees with local schools. Importantly, the students will also be shown how to care for these important habitats as they mature. We will also educate and raise awareness about the importance of trees and the multifunctional benefits of forests."
