Muintir na Tire School Garden Competition

  This week we focus  on St Joseph's Charleville who were Highly Commended for their School Garden  .   Excellent first time entry. Great food production, lots of colour and art, Brilliant use of polytunnel Fairy garden using recycled materials. Consider water butt sensory wall, and more native flora to help pollination otherwise keep up great work.   Congratulations to all involved at  St Joseph's Charleville    For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here                                       

  This week we focus  on St Columba's GNS who won  the  School Garden of the Year for Cork City.   This is a wonderful garden. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed by Garden Club / farmers Market links to local community Tidy Towns, Mens Shed and parents. Geodome a brilliant addition, Tree project excellent and intergenerational Fairy Houses brilliant. keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at St Columba's GNS   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  This week we also focus  on St Brendans GNS who won Best in Category  for their School Garden.  We were delighted with the good progress being made in this your first year in the competition. You covered many of the elements especially with regard to colour and art from upcycled materials.The raised beds were tidy and weed free. The unmown grass areas are perfect for bees and butterflies. Consider a polytunnel and try get help from parents, local mens shed etc. Keep up great work.   Congratulations to all involved at St Brendans GNS   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

   This week we focus  on Scoil Phadraig Naofa who received a Gold Meda  for their School Garden. This is a very good garden despite the limitations of the site. The garden still covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed by the creativity shown, great art work, and use of the space. The wormery is a good addition, Good use of Irish language. The students were very knowledgable. Keep up great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Scoil Phadraig Naofa   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  This week we focus  on Scoil Fhiacna who received a Gold Medal  for their School Garden.  We were delighted with the good progress being made in this your second year in the competition. The raised beds could do with weeding and clear bilingual labelling. You could look at more biodiversity elements the back of the all weather court has a natural pond. Try growing potatoes in containers or in towered tyres. Consider a polytunnel, it will make a huge difference to your planting season. You should now be able to start planting in the polytunnel earlier and plant out when weather permits. Keep up great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Scoil Fhiachna, Glengarriff    For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  Choose nectar and pollen-rich plants for your garden There are plenty of beautiful plants you can choose for your garden that are rich in nectar and pollen. Bidens and Bacopa are great bedding plants for small containers and hanging baskets; and herbs such as Thyme and Rosemary provide food for you as well as for pollinators. Make sure you keep these plants to your garden and don’t plant them in the wider landscape. Outside your garden, the best action for pollinators is to create biodiversity meadows and margins by reducing mowing. Why : Pollinators need flowers that produce lots of nectar (for energy) and pollen (for protein). Where : Gardens, pots on a balcony, window boxes, public parks, schools, and businesses. Avoid adding these plants to the wider landscape. Idea:  Plant bulbs such as Snowdrop, Crocus, and Grape Hyacinth in the autumn to provide early food for emerging pollinators the following spring. Or plant five fruit trees to create a mini orchard. Find out more ...

  A new publication to help everyone to help wildlife in their gardens, no matter how big or small, has been launched. The brainchild of Juanita Browne, the booklet was produced by Local Authority Heritage Officers across Ireland, with help from the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Heritage Council. Taking a very practical approach, the book details projects to help wildlife of all kinds under a range of headings, with tasks suitable for everyone from the total beginner to the more ambitious DIY enthusiast. With clear instructions and step-by-step drawings by illustrator Barry Reynolds, the guide offers the gardener lots of options to help our biodiversity. With increasing agricultural intensification, gardens in many areas can be an oasis for wildlife, and with small changes we can make them even better. The guide outlines actions that can be taken to improve gardens for birds, bees, butterflies, bats and more, and the good news is many of the steps that can be taken ar...

  This week we focus  on Scoil Bhríd   who were Highly Commended for their School Garden. This is developing into a very good garden but is ready for moving when time comes.. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed by quality of vegs, herbs and by the new hedge planting which will provide great shelter, Consider Upright pallet growing also for planting and shelter, link with Mens Shed to help with new raised beds, a Poly tunnel would also be a great asset. keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Scoil Bhríd   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  This week we focus  on Scoil Eoin  who were Highly Commended for their School Garden.  We were delighted with the good progress being made in this your second year in the competition and the involvement of all the classes. The polytunnel will make a huge difference to your planting season. You should now be able to start planting in the polytunnel earlier and plant out when weather permits The raised beds were tidy and weed free. You could look growing potatoes in containers or in towered tyres. Keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Soil Eoin.   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  This week we focus  on Rusheen  N.S  who received a Gold Medal for their School Garden. This is and continues to be a wonderful garden. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed links to local heritage. Consider more use of the Irish language and keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Rusheen National School.   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here

  This week we also focus  on Rylane  N.S  who were Highly Commended for their School Garden.   This is developing into a very good garden. The garden covers all the elements including Food Production, Biodiversity, Upcycling Colour and art and is a fun learning place for all the children. We were very impressed by biodiversity areas Hedgehog Hollow, Creepy Crawley Trail, Raised beds using Sods, Great use of Polytunnel, Great labelling and use of Irish Consider link with local Heritage and keep up the great work.   Congratulations to all involved at Rylane National School.   For more Information on the School Gardens Competition  Click Here