Variety -the Children’s Charity of Ireland & Ballymore Group donate 7500 native Irish trees to all national School children in Co Roscommon
‘I’ve planted a tree and my garden is pesticide free’
Irish Children’s charity, Variety Ireland have teamed up with Roscommon native and international building developer Sean Mulryan, Roscommon County Council and The Federation of Group Water Schemes to unveil our ‘I’ve planted a tree and my garden is pesticide free’ campaign.
This will see every national school child in Co. Roscommon receive a native Irish tree to plant in their own garden at home.
According to Variety Ireland’s Head of Programmes, Kevin O’Brien “This Initiative, (which is a first anywhere in Ireland) we hope will inspire young children to be mindful about their local environment. At the same time, these young people can be active in planting a tree in their own garden with their family.”
“We as voluntary run Irish charity we are committed to helping children with disabilities across the county and are delighted to be involved in such a creative initiative with Sean Mulryan and Ballymore.”
“The work that The Federation of Group Water Schemes and Roscommon County Council have done in putting this programme together is simply incredible.”
“It actively allows for children to be physically involved in planting a tree which they can watch grow as they grow. “
“As one of the oldest children’s charities in Ireland, another aspect of our charity work here at Variety Ireland is to help educate and engage children in environmental activities (regardless of their ability) which in turn will help them to become more environmentally aware and sustainable in their local environment.”
Sean Mulryan, Chairman and Group Chief Executive of Ballymore adds: ‘We take sustainability and biodiversity seriously on all our projects and I’m thrilled to be a part of this. It’s a fantastic idea that will make a big impact on the education of children and on the future of Roscommon. Initiatives like this spark young people’s curiosity and help to get them involved in safeguarding our planet’s future.’
Schoolchildren across the county of Roscommon will plant 7,500 native trees this autumn as part of an eco-initiative to help protect local water sources, enhance biodiversity and capture carbon. The community initiative, which is being launched as part of Rural Water Week, is also intended to inspire the next generation and their families to think about sustainability.
National school children across the county will receive online information about the damaging consequences of pesticide use and about the importance of biodiversity enhancement. Just before mid-term, every child will receive a tree sponsored by Ballymore as well as a certificate recognising the child’s role as ‘an advocate for biodiversity’ in their own homes.
Welcoming what she describes as ‘a key element’ of the Roscommon GWSs Source Protection Pilot Project, Senior Executive Officer with Roscommon County Council, Catherine Finlay says that ‘in raising awareness about environmental issues, the ‘I’ve planted a tree and my garden is pesticide free’ schools initiative has the potential to ‘bring lasting benefits to drinking water sources across the county and to the communities that rely on them’.
Mid Roscommon GWs manager Noel Carroll explains its importance of this initiative across the county ‘Pesticide usage in gardens and on verges outside households poses a threat to the quality of water that comes out of our taps and to biodiversity in general. When children understand this, they can play a vital role in persuading their parents, uncles and aunties to stop spraying these toxic substances”
‘We trialled this initiative in Tulsk and Four Mile House National Schools earlier this year and could see the enthusiasm of the children and how they understood just how important it is to protect our local water sources and biodiversity.”
Three generations of the Mulryan family at launch of project: Sean Mulryan, his son James Mulryan and granddaughter Ruby who in partnership with Variety Ireland have sponsored 7500 trees for the National School Children in County Roscommon
