Focus on Rusheen N.S

Muintir na Tire Launch Cork School Garden Competition at Griffins Garden Centre.

Pictured at the Launch of the Muintir na Tire Cork School garden competition. Included are Margaret Griffin Miriam Dillon and 'Queen Bee' Jennifer Cotter of Griffins Garden Centre, Bee keepers Ben Philpott and Noel Riordan. Cork County Council officials Louis Duffy, Dr.Mary Stack and Conor Nelligan. Deputy County Mayor Kevin Conway, Donal O'Leary Macroom and District Environmental Group, Pupils and teachers of Scoil Chroí Iosa Blarney, Banteer NS and Aghabullogue NS. Sean Holland Denis Kelly and Seamus Forde Muintir na Tire.

The Muintir na tire Cork School garden competition was officially opened by Deputy County Mayor Kevin Conway last monday in Griffins Garden Centre Dripsey and many primary schools across the County have already entered their school garden in the competition. Muintir na Tire, Cork County Council and the team at Griffins created a Real buzz at the official Launch of the Competition.

Ted Walsh Emma Hughes and Erin Hickey and Deputy Mayor Kevin Conway having fun making 'Bee Friendly Seed Bombs' with Queen Bee Jennifer Cotter at the Cork School Gardens Competition Launch

 Deputy Mayor Conway  said he personally and the County Council were delighted to be associated with this great initiative that helps children to learn the importance of nature and growing your own food while at the same time staying active. Margaret  Griffin and and her team were on hand to gave the children and teachers lots of invaluable advice in Fruit and Vegetable Gardening ,

Pupils from Aghabullogue NS Anna O Leary James Lane and Michelle Murphy learn how to grow potatoes in containers watched by Queen Bee Jennifer Cotter and Dr. Mary Stack Environmental Awareness Officer Cork County Council at the launch of the Muintir na Tire Cork Schools Garden Competition

Erin Hickey Emma Hughes and Ted Hickey show Louis Duffy head of the Environment Directorate Cork Council the art of growing potatoes in a bucket.

Special guest included the children and teachers of Scoil Choí Iosa Blarney, and Aghabullogue and Banteer National schools where they got  the opportunity to Meet and chat with local beekeepers Ben Phillpott and Noel Riordan and learn the importance of Bee friendly Gardening. The children  learnt the fun of guerrilla gardening. The queen Bee Jennifer Cotter taught the local kids how to make bee friendly seed bombs. When they throw the these bombs in to wasteland, the seeds will germinate into a wonderful bee friendly flower patch .

Queen Bee Jennifer Cotter with Pupils of Banteer NS. Rachel Collins Aoife O Connor and Nicola Corkery learning how to make Bee Friendly 'Seed Bombs' with Deputy County Mayor Kevin Conway

A real Favourite with the children was the Bee Mobile at Griffins.  To celebrate the work of the bees and pollinators the vibrant bee mobile at Griffins was unveiled. This is a fun bright display that portrays the importance of bees to our environment. This year Griffins are awarding a special award for the best 'Bee friendly School Garden' and the Bee mobile was a great attraction to all at the launch. Margaret Griffin and the Local beekeepers  have asked all schools to help protect our bees and Plants Bee friendly gardens. Her message is simple. Plant flowers and bees will follow. Through the Cork Schools garden competition , Muintir na Tire Griffins and Cork county Council will  reward schools for their hard work with biodiversity and bee friendly gardening

Buzzing about bees  Local Beekeepers Noel O Riordan and Ben Phillpot take a well earned rest by the 'Bee Mobile' during the launch of the Cork School Garden Competition for Primary Schools in County Cork

Dr. Mary Stack Environmental Awareness Officer of Cork County Council pictured at the 'Bee Mobile'

Dr. Mary Stack Environmental Awareness Officer of Cork County council encouraged schools to rethink, repair, refurbish along with reusing & recycling items in their garden as this is very important for the environment. 

Conor Nelligan Heritage Officer and Dr Mary Stack speaking at the launch at the Launch

Conor Nelligan Heritage urged schools to think Biodiversity when gardening. He particularly suggested the inclusion of natural hedges, log piles, bird boxes, bird tables, wildflower meadows, nature-trails and the use of native flora.

Mr Séan Holland of Muintir na Tire who heads up the organising team speaking at the Launch

Sean Holland of Muintir na Tire who co-ordinate the competition thanked Cork County Council and Griffins Garden Centre for all their support in organising the Competition. He said that Garden Categories for 2017 will  include Edible Garden, Biodiversity/Wildlife Garden, Up-Cycling Art and colour Garden, Mixed Garden,   Small Garden, Best New Garden , Innovation and Creativity and the overall best  Pride of County Cork Garden  for which  all  schools will be automatically judged.

 He said children and teachers can  Log on now to www.muintir cork.com to register your school for the 2017 School gardens competition. He said the website  and the School Gardens Blog are filled with great advice and inspiration for school kids and teachers alike. Sean said that all schools big and small should enter the competition. 'dont worry if your garden is in its early stage you should still enter and learn as you go along'.

All photos by Timmy Griffin

For more information please contact Denis Kelly at admin@muintircork.com or phone 0872034876

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