Clare teacher helps put down roots for outdoor learning project

A BRIDGETOWN native has been involved in a major project to promote biodiversity and recreational amenities on the campus of Mary Immaculate College.

Linda Treacy joined a team made up of members of LEAF Ireland and college staff to plant almost 100 native trees on the college grounds.

Planting a ‘Choill Bheag’ on the grounds of Mary I will create a small, dense native woodland habitat for biodiversity and an educational and recreational resource for the whole college community to enjoy. 

As part of the Choill Bheag project, Linda and fellow student teachers attended forest-based workshops in Coillte’s Curragh Chase Forest Park in Limerick.

There, they were shown a variety of different ways that the outdoors can be used to educate children in all curricular areas.  

This woodland habitat at Mary I will provide an on-site educational and recreational resource for the whole college community, enabling students to participate in programmes including Citizen Science, Woodland Skills, Nature Connection and Wellbeing.

The woodland also links with the Green-Campus Programme, Global Goals, and Global Action Days, such as National Tree Day, National Tree Week, Biodiversity Day, Climate Action Week and other environmental programmes.

Most importantly, the student teachers will be shown how to use this space to teach many other subjects, such as Gaeilge, Geography, History and Art, transforming the Choill Bheag into a living classroom.

An Choill Bheag is a long-term educational programme. It is based on practical sustainable tree planting and long-term woodland and eco-system education, management, and practical skills. It has a strong emphasis on creating the woodland and hedgerow habitats that are then studied and managed as part of a longer-term educational initiative.

This long-term educational programme is an initiative of LEAF Ireland and the Environmental Education Unit (EEU) of An Taisce. The Mary I project is funded by JSG Memorial Foundation and delivered by the staff Environmental Education Unit (EEU) of An Taisce.

Dr Anne Dolan, lecturer at Mary I said the new facility will be integral to the formation of the next generation of educators.

“Student teachers will have an opportunity to learn about native Irish Trees through planting, observation, and continued engagement with An Choill Bheag,” she said.

“As primary teachers, they will be well equipped to teach children about the joy and wonder of Irish Trees. Mary Immaculate College is committed to education for sustainability.

“An Choill Bheag is an important climate action for the college, and it also serves as a resource for teaching about the importance of biodiversity.

“We are hopeful that partnership with LEAF Ireland will develop as our Choill Bheag becomes an important educational resource for students and staff.”

Rachel Geary from LEAF Ireland noted that her organisation has been working in partnership with Mary I for over four years.

“The culmination of this work has resulted in the institution being the first third-level college with a Choill Bheag,” she said.

“In an Choill Bheag, we want to make it possible for people to spend time in nature and bring the classroom outdoors. Through our partnership with Mary Immaculate College, we want to raise awareness of the benefits of learning outside by creating small woodland and hedgerow habitats and encourage more third-level institutions to plant an Choill Bheag on their grounds.”

A total of 12 small woodlands have been planted in 11 schools and one college across the country between November 2021 and March 2022. 

The EEU was established in 1993. Its mission is to create a greater awareness of environmental issues through practical, action-based, national and international educational programmes directed across the spectrum of Irish society. It works with a wide range of sectors including schools, universities, community groups, householders, Local Authorities, youth groups, businesses and the general public.

The rationale for this is to effect positive behavioural change for the environment. This work is supported by funding from various government departments, government agencies, corporate funders and philanthropy.