Meath schools to plant 800 native trees as part of biodiversity and wellbeing drive
The project led by Meath Local Sports Partnership (LSP) and the LEAF Ireland programme, An Choill Bhea, will see four schools create small native woodlands on their grounds through a series of hands-on workshops and planting sessions.
Each school will receive 200 mixed native trees of Irish provenance, planted across four visits that combine environmental education with practical conservation work.
The participating schools are Moynalty National School, Kilmainhamwood National School, St Patrick’s National School in Slane, and Gaelscoil An Bhradáin Feasa in Drogheda.
The initiative forms part of the biodiversity requirements linked to the Participation Nation Outdoor Fund and is supported by the Amuigh Faoin Spéir fund.
It also serves to offset the environmental impact of five new 3x3 basketball courts installed by Meath LSP in Dunshaughlin, Kilmainhamwood, Laytown and Navan over 2024 and 2025.
Through the programme, students will carry out soil testing, site mapping and plant identification before planting and mulching the young trees. Later visits will include biodiversity surveys, installation of signage and guidance on maintaining the woodland habitats.
Mary Murphy, CEO of Meath LSP, said the project demonstrates how sport and environmental responsibility can work together.
“This partnership with LEAF Ireland is a fantastic example of how sport, community and climate action can come together in a meaningful way. Through this programme, we are not only offsetting the environmental impact of new sports infrastructure but also creating lasting educational resources for our schools,” she said.
“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 with LEAF Ireland, said the initiative was designed to give young people a stronger connection to their local environment.
“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,” she said.
She added that the small native woodlands will provide long-term learning spaces for students while contributing to biodiversity and wellbeing on school grounds for “years to come”.