The Young Environmentalist Awards Programme (YEAP) honours the work of young people between the ages of 12 and 18 who protect, conserve and enhance our environment through local environmental projects, making a difference to their lives and the lives of others locally and globally.
Drogheda Tidy Towns linked in with 3 local transition students who had a big interest in biodiversity and were looking for projects to develop their knowledge and experience in this area.
Following some discussions and with the support of a local Biodiversity expert Tony Conaghy, it was decided to work together on a project to roll out some small urban orchards in local schools.
The Urban orchards project was a Drogheda Towns initiative to reduce our carbon footprint and to offer the community an opportunity to engage with climate action in a fun and meaningful way. Orchards are great habitats for pollinators such as wild bees and hoverflies, which in turn help trees produce fruit. Orchards are a great source of food in Spring when it’s scarce. The project involved planting small orchards comprising of five trees, across a mix of public or community locations. These mini orchards can provide food and shelter for pollinators, and home-grown fruit for the community or school involved.
Lily Kate Carley and Abisola Makun from Sacred Heart school together with Pete Savage from St Joseph’s took on the task to roll out this project in local schools.
Firstly, the group researched the topic and then prepared a manual with general information on fruit trees and orchards as well as on the key aspects involved in developing and caring for a mini orchard. The manual contained detailed information on topics such as planting, staking, soil and compost requirements, mulching as well as how to care for the trees during the different seasons. Armed with this leaflet and working with Tony Conaghy as well as Eamonn Clinton and Gerry Leydon from Drogheda Tidy Towns, a list of schools and other locations were identified for mini orchards. Tidy Towns agreed to sponsor this initiative and supply the trees. One of five fruit trees variety’s included was the “Blood of the Boyne” variety, well known and historically connected with the local area.
Some five schools got involved in this project, including Ballymakenny College, St Joseph’s Primary School,St Paul’s Primary School, St Olivers Secondary School and Educate Together, Mill Road. In addition, 4 other locations created mini orchards as part of the project including Men’s Shed, Ashfield, Trinity Gardens and The Red Door.
The students have shared their project across multiple schools providing the opportunity that many other young people receive and benefit from information on biodiversity and the benefits such projects can bring to many in the community. They also formally submitted this as their project under the Young Environmentalist Awards Programme and are successfully through to the North of Ireland semifinals stage of this competition. Wishing them the best luck in the remainder of the competition
A comment from Maura, St Paul’s National School “They will be of great interest to the children and beneficial to whatever wildlife we have.
We are delighted with them and want to thank you, the council and Tidy Towns.”
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