Biodiversity

Our Biodiversity Green School webpage is now up and running!

Our Green School committee for this year is as follows:

Chairperson: Conor Dempsey
Vice Chairperson : Eoghan Holohan
Secretary: Edmond Agbaje
Vice Secretary: Seán Lawlor
P.R.O.: Donal Harris
P.R.O.: Conor Mullligan
P.R.O.: Paul Hughes
Litter Officers: Michael Martin and Paul Hughes
Energy Officers: Eoghan Ryan and Michael Brady
Water Officers: Jakub Balasiewjcz and Jack Guing
Travel Officers: Craig Tyrrell and Aaron Ankers
Community Representative:Frank Hardy
Parents' Representative: Willie McCreanor

Great News!
On Wednesday May 23rd we were awarded our fifth green flag for Biodiversity – The Study of Habitats. We raised our Green Flag on Friday June 14th. To see photos of the day please visit our photo gallery.

The following is a speech given by one of our students on the day of the Green Flag Rasing.

On the 23rd of May 2013, Miss Dolan, Miss Tyrrell, Jakub and I went to Athlone to collect our Biodiversity Flag. When we got to the Radisson hotel we were given gear bags which contained a bottle and a bookmark. I put a wish on the wish tree and took a photo with two green school mascots. When the ceremony began many schools were getting their litter and waste flag, their energy flag, their water flag, their travel flag as well as their Biodiversity flag. We were called near the end and Jakub and I went to collect our flag. After, we had a delicious lunch. We also got dessert. But I wish the whole of the committee had been there because they all deserve a treat. It was a very enjoyable day, one which I will never forget.

We could not have accomplished this great achievement of our fifth ‘Green Schools Flag’ without the help of so many people both in the school and in the wider community.

We would like to say a special thanks to our parents, teachers, neighbours and especially to Frank Hardy and Willie McCreanor  from Edenderry Tidy Towns Committee.  They gave us an enormous amount of help over the past two years. Their wood work skills were certainly utilized.  They built bird boxes, insect hotels and logpiles, hedgehog nests, and bat boxes! You name it if it could be made out of wood the boys made it!!!

We would also like to say a special thank you to Declan Manley for his continued work with the school over the past few years. Declan has always been there to help plant our vegetable garden and has planted many trees in the grounds which has contributed to the biodiversity of our school. This year he also helped us set up a wildflower garden.

By Edmund

As part of raising awareness we took part in the following initiatives:

Clara Bog and Visitor Centre
All of our classes visited Clara Bog recently. Clara Bog is one of the finest examples of a raised bog in Western Europe. First we visited the visitor centre located at Clara Library. Then we went out on the boardwalk through the bog. Our pupils learned about the plants and animals that make the bog their home.

One Million Trees in One Day
Our school will be taking part in the 'One Million Trees in One Day' scheme where it is hoped to plant one million trees throughout the island of Ireland in 24hours.

National Spring Clean
Our school will be participating in the National Spring Clean in April.

Heritage in Schools
Through the Heritage in Schools scheme Paddy Madden will visit our school to talk to the students about plant and animal life.

Biodiversity Mascots and Codes
All pupils had the opportunity to design a biodiversity mascot and write a biodiversity code.  The standard was extremely high this year with great mascots and codes being produced. Our biodiversity mascots and code winners were announced yesterday. Our new code is:

Biodiversity is so cool,
We are learning all about it in school;
So come on everyone and do your share,
Together we can show we care.
Plants and animals, both big and small,
They depend on us to save them all.

This code was written by Gary in 2nd Class.

We also have four new mascots to help us achieve our Green Flag. Hedginator the hedgehog (Cathal, 3rd class), Freddy Frog Pond Protector (Jason, 5th class), The Buzzinator  (Damantas, 4th class),  David the Duckling (Thomas, 6th class)

Wildlife Habitat
We created a wildlife habitat in our school grounds as part of our Green Schools programme. Some of our students also helped to build this beautiful insect hotel.

Class Biodiversity Projects:
All classes created projects as part of our green schools bio-diversity programme.  Here is a list of our class projects.

Class                                         Project
Miss Dolan                                Farm Animals
Miss Tyrrell                                Crops on the farm. 
Miss Blain                                 Hedgerow habitat.
Miss Flaherty                             Pollination and pollinators.
Mr Ryan                                     Woodland Habitat
Miss Hanrahan                          The Grand Canal
Mrs Martin                                 A local River
Mrs Bannon                                Bogland Habitats
Mr Foran                                    Climate Change and Biodiversity

Bird Houses/Hedgehog Boxes/Insect Hotels
In partnership with Edenderry Tidy Towns Committee, students in our school are helping to set up bird boxes, hedgehog boxes and insect hotels in the school and parish centre grounds.  Willie McCreanor and Frank Hardy from the Tidy Towns Committee have made a number of bird boxes.  Mrs. Bannon’s class are currently painting these boxes.  The boys hope to help Willie and Frank hang the boxes in the coming weeks in the school and parish centre grounds. We already have hedgehog boxes installed in our school grounds and in the parish centre as well as insect hotels.

Frank, Willie and some of our students hung bird boxes in the school grounds and in the parish centre. We are now hoping some birds use the boxes to build their nests in.

Bird Watching
Every Thursday each class is keeping a record of the birds they see in the school grounds.  Liam Cox, Niall Leonard, Dylan O Connor and William McBride are participating in a bird watch survey conducted by Bird Watch Ireland with the help of Mr O Looney. The boys are also attending to the bird tables ensuring that the birds have sufficient food during the cold winter.

Every Thursday each class are birdwatching in the school grounds! Birds spotted include blackbirds, rooks (crows) and woodpigeons. Some people can be very lucky and can spot a wide variety of birds while others don't get to see any, depending on the weather. (Donal P.R.O.)

Window Boxes
During the past two years to help us get our biodiversity green flag each class planted flowers in window boxes with Mr. Fitzgerald. Among those flowers planted were daffodils, tulips, crocus and hyacinths. It was a very successful project and everybody enjoyed themselves. (Conor P.R.O. )

Bulb Planting
Mr Fitzgerald also brought our classes to sow daffodils and snowdrops outside. This included every boy being give the opportunity to sow a daffodil bulb in our daffodil spiral.