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Muintir na Tíre Launch Cork School Garden Competition

8th March 2022

There was an air of spring in Atkins Garden Centre as the Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald, and the Mayor of Cork County, Cllr. Gillian Coughlan, launched the Cork School Garden Competition 2022.

 

Sponsored by Cork City and Cork County Councils and organised by Cork County Muintir na Tíre, the competition has a prize fund of over €5,000.  The annual Cork School Garden Competition is open to all primary schools in Cork city and county who have a school garden or are in the process of developing one.

 

Speaking at the launch, Mr Sean Holland of Muintir na Tíre said “If a school has a garden or they are thinking about developing one, then the Cork School Garden Competition might be the competition for them. There are so many categories and awards, and the competition is open to new or existing gardens, big and small.” (Full list of categories below.)

 

Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Tony Fitzgerald, said that “Cork City Council is proud to be on board with this great initiative. It is great that all primary schools in the City can now enter and display their school gardens and learn from the other entrants in the competition.”

  

The Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Gillian Coughlan, welcomed the launch of the annual competition. “Activities that can help children to learn the importance of nature while staying active are crucial for health and wellbeing. Since its establishment in 2012, the Muintir na Tíre School Garden Competition has inspired thousands of students across Cork County to embrace the outdoors and Cork County Council is very proud to have supported the competition each year. I urge schools to consider signing up this year, whether as a new entrant or a long-established participant, we want to see students from every town and village involved this year.”

 

Full competition details are available from Cork County Federation Muintir na Tíre, 8 Sidney Place, Wellington Road, Cork City. Telephone 021-4500688.

Closing date for Competition Entry is Good Friday, 15th April 2022.

 

To enter online go to muintircork.com and follow the links, or email:  admin@muintircork.com for more information.

 

Awards and Categories

  • Up-Cycling: Upcycling in the garden helps lessen the amount of waste going into landfills. Upcycling helps reduce CO2 emissions by using old materials instead of new ones. Schools are encouraged to rethink, repair, refurbish along with reusing & recycling items, e.g., Fairy Houses made from recycled materials, but don’t damage trees.
  • Food Production: Being able to grow food without pesticides and eat it straight from the garden is superior in every way to produce that is pumped full of additives, packed to prevent it deteriorating, transported and then sold as ‘fresh’. Schools are asked to grow in raised beds and containers, plant fruit trees, fruit bushes, practice rotation, weeding, labelling, use of composting, rain-water Harvesting and wormeries, etc.
  • Biodiversity/Wildlife/ Native Flowers and Plants: It is now widely recognised that climate change and biodiversity are interconnected. Biodiversity is affected by climate change, with negative consequences for human well-being, but biodiversity, through the ecosystem services it supports, also makes an important contribution to both climate-change mitigation and adaptation. We are looking for natural hedges, log piles, bird boxes, bird tables, wildflower meadows, nature trails, use of native flora, organic manures and natural pest control.
  • Bee Friendly Garden: Loss of natural and semi-natural habitats has been a key driver in pollinator declines. The availability of food plants and nesting sites has been drastically reduced through conversion of low-intensity farmland and semi-natural land to intensive farmland, forestry and urban/industrial use. Thee will be a special award for the school which is most bee friendly and encourages pollination.
  • Art and colour: Using art and colour in the garden to enhance its features and characteristics. Try using upcycled materials.
  • Imaginative use of limited space: For schools with very limited space, i.e., small courtyards, limited soil space, use of tubs, containers, window boxes, paths, borders, walls, etc.
  • Innovation and Creativity: In recognition of the Creative Ireland Programme, this category encourages innovative garden elements, using new and unique features to inspire others.
  • Fun and Play: The degree to which the garden contributes to opportunities for fun and play in the school.
  • Learning experience: The degree to which the garden is used as a learning tool within the school and the number of children who participate.
  • Community Involvement / Heritage: the degree to which the wider community support the design, construction and ongoing development of the school garden. How the garden relates to local heritage and how it reflects the history of the local community.
  • Use of Irish Language in Garden: A special element for the use of Irish in the garden. For example, tree names in Irish, labelling and other signage in Irish.
  • Cork School Gardens of the Year: Overall best Garden in Cork City and Overall best Garden in County Cork.  All schools who enter are automatically entered for these awards depending on their location.