Students from Ardscoil na Mara teamed up with students from other schools in the Irish Schools Sustainability Network to discuss the benefits of trees for their Plant a Planet Campaign.
The students are aiming to get at least 10% of the staff and students in their schools to plant a tree at home as a Climate and Nature action.
Currently, our planet is 1.2 degrees celsius warmer than pre-industrial times. This small increase in global average temperature is wreaking havoc across the world. Young people are worried about their future. A recent Lancet study surveyed 10 000 children and young people (aged 16-25years) around the world. They found that 75% said that the future is frightening.
These young people in the Irish Schools Sustainability Network are taking action into their own hands. While doing so, they are learning, having fun, socialising, developing their own skills and having a positive impact on their community. To date the initiative has seen more that 600 trees planted.
Well done to their teacher Patrick Kirwan who literally planted the original idea only to see it taken over by the students with amazing results.
The students in Ardscoil na Mara are obtaining their tree whips from Orchardstown Garden Centre in Kilmeaden.
You can support their campaign by planting a tree in your own garden. Let them know you've supported their campaign by completing this short form (it takes 30 seconds) Click Here.
Part 1: COP 26 and the Plant a Planet Campaign
In this episode students from Ardscoil na Mara Aisling Milner (5th year) and Matthew Murrary (6th Year) talk about how they are having fun taking climate and ecological action. They want to bring our community together through action.
Students from Rockbrook Park school in Dublin Karthik Sreekanth (3rd year) and James Drum (2nd year) discuss how important trees are for biodiversity. Native trees make up only 2% of the 11% tree cover in Ireland. Trees are an important supply of food for insects, birds and mammals. We need to plant more native trees.
In Ardscoil na Mara students Keira Herterich (4th year) and Daniel Brennan (4th year) discuss how trees absorb carbon dioxide. This gas traps heat in our atmosphere. So planting trees helps to cool our planet down.
In Edmund Rice Secondary School, Carrick on Suir students Kyle Dowley (5th year) and Zach O'Keefe (2nd year) discuss how trees can help to reduce flooding. Trees can reduce the amount of rain falling on the ground and reduce surface run-off.
Ashling and Matthew discuss how trees can improve soil health. Trees not only add nutrients to the soil but they also help to prevent soil erosion.
2nd Year Students Ellie and Louise from Ramsgrange School provide you with some advice on planting trees. Get them into the ground before the end of March!
In Ardscoil na Mara 4th year students Tom Fitzgerald and Max Hennesy discuss how we can reduce our anxiety by taking action. Plant a tree and get involved.
Recently, 1500 native trees were planted in Cherrymount in Waterford City. More here.
