Ruadhán Jones
Sr Mary O’Dwyer IBVM, Laura Casanellas – a volunteer from Bloomin Crumlin – TY students Abigail Managhan and
China Manalo and Sr Veronica O’Donoghue IBVM planting saplings for the pocket forest, March 3. Loreto College Crumlin are turning an acre of unused land into a “pocket forest” and biodiversity meadow with the help of staff, students and the local Loreto Sisters.
The girl’s secondary school decided to start the biodiversity project last year to utilise a plot of unused land, deputy principal Matt Whelan told The Irish Catholic.
“A former pupil came and advised us to let it grow. Don’t do anything, let the land grow and see what happens,” Mr Whelan explained.
The school left it growing up until March of last year, when staff and students started planning how to develop it into a native meadow.
“The students did research into what we could possibly grow there,” Mr said. “Basically it’s to provide biodiversity in what is essentially a very urban area.
“An awful lot of our students live in flats and apartments and wouldn’t have access to greenery themselves,” Mr Whelan explained. “They’ve got their hands dirty as well and stuck in.”
Two Loreto Sisters (pictured) living on-campus were also invited to help with proceedings and have since attended every session.
“I’m really, really enjoying it,” said Sr Mary Dwyer. “It’s just lovely, there’s one sapling already that has a little green bud – so there’s life already.”