An outdoor based forest classroom is to be established in a Donegal school.
Coillte and the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce are delivering six new An Choill Bheags (little woodlands) in primary and secondary schools across Ireland, one of which will be based in Monreagh NS in Lifford.
An Choill Bheag is a long-term educational programme, an initiative of LEAF Ireland and the EEU of An Taisce.
The aim of the initiative is to create small, dense native woodland habitats for biodiversity and an educational and recreational resource for the whole school community to enjoy.
Coillte is providing the native trees (including such species as oak, alder, wild cherry, rowan, scots pine, willow and whitethorn among others) for the students to plant and is funding the programme.
An Taisce will create the little woodlands in collaboration with students and staff in the six schools.
Students are encouraged to connect with woodland culture and biodiversity to understand their benefits to society, climate change, biodiversity and their local economy.
An Choill Bheag (little woodland) is an outdoor living classroom, which will bring small, dense, biodiverse native woodland habitats to school grounds.
Furthermore, as these woodlands develop, it’s envisaged that nature trails can be fostered and managed.
The key objectives of An Choill Bheag are to:
• Involve students in site selection and tree planting
• Encourage proactive, practical and sustainable tree planting
• Provide students with the necessary skills to maintain, monitor and study essential ecosystems for long term use
