Schools

Lá na gCrann 2012
TREE DAY 2012

Balrath Project - The Outdoor Classroom:

Balrath woodland is located in Co. Meath on what was once part of the old Summerville Estate. It extends over 21 hectares and was planted in 1969 with a mixture of conifers and broadleaves, mainly Norway spruce and Oak. Remnants of older broadleaves such as Spanish chestnut, Horse chestnut, Beech and Oak are scattered throughout the wood and two grassed ridelines which run though the property favour wildlife diversity.

The Tree Council of Ireland are developing this woodland in association with Meath County Council as an "Outdoor classroom" or an interpretive woodland. When work is complete it will be used as an educational medium, through which public knowledge and awareness of trees, the woodland environment and forest management can be heightened. The Outdoor Classroom will be made readily accessible to the public and will prove an attractive venue and ideal setting for outdoor teaching and for school groups.

If you would like to download "Balrath Wood - An introduction to Irish woodlands - Notes for Teachers"(PDF format )please click here

National Tree Week 2012
‘Crainn – Inné, Inniu, Amárach’
‘Trees – Our Past, Our Present, Our Future’
 

National Tree Week takes place from 4-10 March 2012.  The theme is ‘Trees – Our Past, Our Present, Our Future’.  During National Tree Week, as well as prompting people to plant more trees, we are asking people to celebrate our remarkable heritage of trees and woodlands and to recognise the significance of trees and forests as a living link to our past, as an enjoyable, life-enhancing asset in the present, and as a wise investment in our future.   

National Tree Week is an opportune chance for schools and others, all over Ireland to do something positive for their local landscape.  By setting up events for National Tree Week within your community or organisation, you can inspire people, young and old, to get out into the fresh air and together plant thousands of trees.  It is great fun too - even on a wet blustery day, the thrill of going out and getting your hands dirty, something many of us don't do often enough, is really rewarding and satisfying whether you are planting one tree or a hundred. 

One of the main projects of National Tree Week 2012 is the distribution of over 15,000 trees, sponsored by Coillte, and distributed by local authorities throughout the country to local community groups and schools for planting during and around National Tree Week.  If your school or community group would like to receive some of these trees for planting during National Tree Week, contact your local County or City Council.

Project Forest

The Tree Council is delighted to make Project Forest available to all Transition Year Students. The project is available only on a dedicated web site http://www.projectforest.ie

The greatest threat to our environment today is climate change. This is caused by increasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. These hold on to the heat radiated by the sun and so causes our planet to heat up. Trees can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. Trees also support biodiversity and provide renewable raw material. Project Forest is where you will learn all you need to know about trees.

Project Forest is designed for Transition year students. It takes a wide educational approach to learning about trees. The Objectives of Module are to:

• Create an understanding of the nature of woods and forests
• Create an awareness of the role of forests in man’s existence
• Encourage a sense of ownership of the forest environment nationally and locally
• Encourage appreciation of wood as a material

There are four modules:

• Biological
• Geographic
• Wood and Forest Products
• Culture

Each module to comprise 2 weeks including 2 double period introductory lessons with desk exercises, 1 field trip, and one post field trip lecture /exercise.

The Project was funded by The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food and was devised by Dr. Gerhardt Gallagher and Éanna Ní Lamhna.