Muintir na Tire Launch Cork School Garden Competition 2020 at Griffins Garden Centre.
After all the wet and windy weather we had in February, memories of Storms Ciara, Jorge and Denis were forgotten and there was an air of spring in Griffins Garden Centre in Dripsey The team at Griffins had pulled out all the stops to get everything ready for the official Launch of the Muintir na Tire Cork School garden Competition. Muintir na Tire, Cork County Council Environment and Heritage Sections. Cork City Council and Griffins Garden Centre have all come together to organise this exciting competition and the eight annual competition is now officially open and many primary schools across the City and County of Cork have already entered.
Speaking at the Launch County Mayor Michael Looney praised this great initiative that helps children to learn the importance of nature while staying active. He said he had been an active gardener since he was at school in Coachford. The Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr John Sheehan said that Cork City Council was delighted to be on board with this great initiative and that he was delighted that all primary schools in the City could now enter and showcase their school gardens and learn from the other entrants in the competition.
Special guests included the children and teachers of Conna National School Overall winner in 2019, School of the Divine Child Ballintemple Cork City and Dripsey National School. These schools also got the opportunity to meet and chat with local beekeepers and learn the importance of Bee friendly Gardening.
Margaret Griffins, the Irish Bee Conservation Society and Local beekeepers are asking schools to help protect our bees and to plant Bee friendly gardens. Margaret’s message is simple. ‘Plant flowers and bees will follow’. This year Griffins and The Irish Bee Conservation Society are awarding special awards for the most Bee friendly Gardens.
Margaret and her team also gave the children and teachers lots of invaluable advice on recycling and potting up old wellies, old handbags and even using their new compostable coffee cups, which can be planted directly into the soil.
Sean Holland Of Cork County Federation Muintir na Tire 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 Cork County Council urged schools to think Biodiversity when gardening. He particularly suggested the use of native flora. Conor also urged schools to use Irish in their school garden, maybe highlighting the names of trees and plants as Gaeilge. He also suggested that schools be creative as there is Creative Ireland award for the most Creative Garden this year. The main theme for this year is again Climate Change and the Garden. Categories include Edible Gardens, Biodiversity/Wildlife Garden, Up-Cycling, Art and colour Garden, Mixed Garden, Small Garden, Best New Garden , Creative Ireland Innovation and Creativity, use of Irish in gardening and the overall best Pride of Cork Garden All schools all automatically judged for this Award.
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