In St. Michael's we have over four acres of school grounds. Some of this area is used exclusively for playing games. In the other areas we have 110 trees and 140 shrubs. In October 1997 we decided to participate in the Green-Schools Programme. A Green School Committee was set up involving teachers, pupils and the caretaker Miley McGrath. An environmental review of the school grounds was carried out. We decided to create a miniature woodland area, to develop a bird watching area adjacent to the school and to establish a nature trail in the school grounds.

We started our work during National Tree Week. Existing trees and shrubs were identified and tagged. Extra trees, shrubs and flowers were planted in the woodland area. This area was let go wild to attract more insects and wildlife. The bird watching area was developed and a nature trail with 11 stops was put in place. Mr. Mooney provided a set of notes for each stop. Some boys measured the school grounds and drew maps. Others drew pictures of the plants and wildlife. Another group of boys worked on computers to produce a set of notes for the sketches. The green theme was continued in our annual school magazine.

Parents, visitors and pupils are regularly taken around the nature trails where the boys from sixth class explain the different types of habitat that are found and the negative impact litter can have on them. The efforts and hard work of the school were rewarded when we were the first school in Ireland to be presented with the Green Flag. Future plans for our school grounds involve the planting of a new Berberis hedge and the development of a vegetable garden.

A Meeting with the Lord Mayor

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Click Here to Read About Our Green Flag Award