800 trees native trees to be planted at four Meath schools

Meath Local Sports Partnership will be planting 800 trees at schools across Meath as part of the biodiversity requirements from the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund.

The partnership is working with LEAF Ireland, a programme run nationally by An Taisce, to plant 800 native Irish trees of Irish provenance on school sites across the county with support from the Amuigh Faoin Spéir fund. This initiative will help offset the construction of the five 3x3 basketball courts installed in Dunshaughlin, Kilmainhamwood, Laytown and two in Navan in 2024 and 2025.

Working with four schools in the county, up to 600 students will benefit from the delivery of educational workshops across a series of four visits. As part of the programme, 200 mixed variety native Irish trees will be planted at each school, creating spaces where students, teachers and nature can interact, learn and thrive.

The partnership will see Meath LSP support LEAF Ireland’s An Choill Bheag workshops at Moynalty National School, Kilmainhamwood National School, St Patrick’s National School in Slane and Gaelscoil An Bhradáin Feasa in Drogheda. The programme is designed to educate students about woodland habitats, biodiversity, climate action and the many environmental, physical and mental health benefits that native trees and green spaces provide.

Each school will receive four interactive visits over the course of the year. The workshops include initial soil testing, plant identification and site mapping, followed by tree planting, mulching to protect young trees and suppress competing grasses, and a final visit focused on biodiversity surveys, installation of tree signs and education on caring for the new habitat.

Students are involved in every stage of the process, helping to foster a strong sense of ownership, responsibility and connection to nature.

Mary Murphy, CEO, Meath LSP, speaking at the tree planting workshop in Moynalty NS, said, “This partnership with LEAF Ireland is a fantastic example of how sport, community and climate action can come together in a meaningful way. Through An Choill Bheag, we are not only offsetting the environmental impact of new sports infrastructure but also creating lasting educational resources for our schools. These new native woodlands in Moynalty, Kilmainhamwood, Slane and Drogheda will benefit students for generations, providing spaces to learn, to play and to connect with nature.”

Rachel Geary, Programme Manager, LEAF Ireland commented, “An Choill Bheag is about much more than planting trees. It is about empowering young people to understand their local environment, to value biodiversity and to take positive action for the future. We are delighted to be working with Meath Local Sports Partnership and the participating schools to create small native woodlands that will support learning, wellbeing and nature connection for years to come.”