In an ongoing exploration of who gardeners are, what they are growing in Fingal and why that matters to all of us, Blanchardstown Gardening Group (BGG) headed to St. Francis Xavier Senior School. Member of BGG and born educator, Karen Williams, started off the day sharing her knowledge of planting practices with the students and helping them to plant a well thought out design for the years ahead, before getting to work planting their little patch of the world.
In part two of the project which was funded by Fingal County Council, the group went even further in imagining and planting a mini orchard for Roselawn Park, with the help of the students and some of the local residents We can’t forget the man power of Fingal representatives who also assisted with the apple tree planting event.
Graham Fallon of Teagaisc, a key contributor to BGG and a believer in the ability for intentional design, also came along to share his knowledge his skills, helping us to plant for our communities as we grow into the future.
The Green Schools committee at Francis Xavier actively champion for biodiversity and nature. Minister Roderic O’ Gorman attended the cross community event to support and discuss the environment with the students. He commented, “Most young people care deeply about these issues, and wish to make a positive change to the nature living around us. The Green-Schools Programme provides an ideal way to foster environmental awareness in the entire school in a way that links to many curriculum subjects.”
Founding member and Cllr Michelle Griffin said “BGG is full of diverse plant thinking and we can all create beautiful abundant and thoughtful places in our communities, for our communities. I would like to thank all involved for their work and commitment to sustainability, especially the young people of St. Frances Xavier.”
Michelle and BGG asks us to think like healthy habitats as we look to our future, by planting landscapes that echo our native meadows and woodlands, while producing resources and improving our lives.
Photos:
Principal Sean McKeown, Green Schools advocate and class teacher, Suzanne Garvey and Minister Roderic O’Gorman.
Blanchardstown gardeneing Group member, Liz Carroll, Minister Roderic O’ Gorman, Principal Sean McKeown, Councillor Michelle Griffin and students of St Frances Xavier Senior School.
Karen Williams, member of Blanchardstown Gardening Group sharing her knowledge with the students.
Graham Fallon of Teagaisc teaches the students about our mini orchard.
Fingal County Council helping out with the planting.
Selection of photos of the day.
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