‘Blooming marvellous’ competition for schools
The 2019 County Cork School Gardens competition is now open and accepting applications, following its official launch last week by Cllr. Joe Harris at Griffins Garden Centre, Dripsey.
Organised by Muintir na Tíre and supported by Griffins Garden Centre and the Environment and Heritage Sections of Cork County Council the competition, now in its seventh year, sees primary schools from all around the County getting involved with more than 20 schools having already entered.
Sean Holland, chairman of the School Garden Project, said that this year the theme is ‘Climate Change and Gardening’ and there will be special awards for garden elements that include up-cycling, food production and biodiversity.
“Being able to grow food without pesticides and eat it straight from the garden is superior in every way to produce that is pumped full of additives, packed to prevent it deteriorating, transported and then sold as ‘fresh’. Schools are asked to grow in raised beds and containers, plant fruit trees, fruit bushes, practice rotation, weeding, labelling, use of composting, rainwater harvesting, wormeries etc,” he said.
It is now widely recognized that climate change and biodiversity are interconnected. Biodiversity is affected by climate change, with negative consequences for human well-being, but biodiversity, through the ecosystem services it supports, also makes an important contribution to both climate-change mitigation and adaptation.
The Cork School Garden Project is looking for natural hedges, log piles, bird boxes, bird tables, wildflower meadows, and nature trails, use of native flora, organic manures and natural pest control.
Speaking at the Launch Cllr Harris, deputising as Mayor of the County of Cork, praised this great initiative – one that helps children to learn the importance of nature while staying active.
Special guests at the launch included the children and teachers of Gaelscoil Uí Drisceóil Dunkettle Glanmire - overall winner in 2018 – and all present on the day got the opportunity to meet and chat with local beekeepers and learn the importance of bee friendly gardening. They also learned how to make plant pots from recycled newspaper and how to make seed bombs for wildflower gardening.
For more information and for registering of schools visit www.muintircork.com. advised to register as soon as possible and prior to March 21 by visiting http://www.artscouncil.ie/creative-schools/schools/.
In addition to this opportunity for schools, the programme is also an opportunity for Creative Associates. Creative Associates are artists, creative practitioners and teachers with a deep understanding of creativity and its potential to transform the lives of children and young people.
They come from a range of creative professions, such as artists, designers, teachers and craftspeople.
Whether from the arts, culture, heritage, creative industries, education, science or other sectors, they challenge, support and sustain new practice in schools in the field of the arts, culture and creative learning.
Applications are now being invited from individuals, organisations and indeed teachers looking to join the Creative Associates Panel to inspire, energise and drive schools forward in their creative endeavours.
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Monday, April 1 and for further information visit http://www.artscouncil.ie/Creative-Schools/CreativeOpportunities. acumen, drive growth and deepen their impact across Ireland.
The objective of the fund is to empower 1,000 women to find and secure sustained employment across Ireland by investing in organisations that provide training, upskilling, education and other services directly to women experiencing disadvantage with a further aim being to double the impact of successful applicants by providing growth capital and support to organisations with a proven track record of social impact.
The Mná na hÉireann, Women of Ireland Fund is open for applications up until April 18.
For more information or to make an application visit http://www.socialinnovation.ie/mna-na-heireann-fund.
A further funding scheme, the Creative Ireland County Cork Grant Scheme, will be announced in the coming days.