St. Aidan’s Biodiversity Garden
In line with the biodiversity theme for our next Green Flag, St. Aidan’s aims to increase awareness of the importance of biodiversity through this garden. Miss Joanne Corbett took on this huge challenge with gusto! As a result a fabulous garden with predominantly native Irish plant species and specific habitats was brought to fruition in time to mark the occasion of 50 years of secondary education in St. Aidan’s Comprehensive School.
There is a woodland, hedgerows, a wildflower meadow, a living wall and wetland. There are also raised beds, an outdoor classroom, benches and a composting area. In this era of ever increasing indoor living and technology saturation we hope to connect students to nature again and teach them to appreciate nature in all her glory.
Of course this project would never have happened without the hard work of many people. School management was responsible for initiating this project in making biodiversity a priority in the school. Design was supplied by Barry Kavanagh from Nature’s Patch. All of the timber features were provided in-house by the talented Woodwork department who willingly spent the extra hours required to perfect the benches, living wall, signage and outdoor classroom.
The Art department and students must be credited for producing the gorgeous mosaics that glitter and sparkle in the sunshine.
Mr. Gerry Brady may have retired from St.Aidan’s some years ago but he was 100% involved in the project from beginning to end and he finally gets his wish of a garden of this nature on school grounds! Indeed it was not unheard of to find Gerry planting bulbs of staking trees in the late evenings with night drawing in, such was his dedication.
Mr. Oliver McCaul ably assisted the chief architect of this garden, Miss Joanne Corbett, with good humour, hard labour and determination at every stage.
Past pupils Ken Thompson, Jason Hall and Ciaran Boyle came to help for a few days- or so they thought. Weeks later they were still on site and worked tirelessly to see the job through.
Current students from the B5 Horticulture and 5th year Agricultural Science classes as well as the woodwork classes in 5th year were key to the success of the project. They are a credit to themselves, their parents and families and to their teachers and school.
The final result is a beautiful wildlife friendly garden that is also a relaxing and beautiful space for students and staff to enjoy not only now but in the years and decades ahead.
There is a woodland, hedgerows, a wildflower meadow, a living wall and wetland. There are also raised beds, an outdoor classroom, benches and a composting area. In this era of ever increasing indoor living and technology saturation we hope to connect students to nature again and teach them to appreciate nature in all her glory.
Of course this project would never have happened without the hard work of many people. School management was responsible for initiating this project in making biodiversity a priority in the school. Design was supplied by Barry Kavanagh from Nature’s Patch. All of the timber features were provided in-house by the talented Woodwork department who willingly spent the extra hours required to perfect the benches, living wall, signage and outdoor classroom.
The Art department and students must be credited for producing the gorgeous mosaics that glitter and sparkle in the sunshine.
Mr. Gerry Brady may have retired from St.Aidan’s some years ago but he was 100% involved in the project from beginning to end and he finally gets his wish of a garden of this nature on school grounds! Indeed it was not unheard of to find Gerry planting bulbs of staking trees in the late evenings with night drawing in, such was his dedication.
Mr. Oliver McCaul ably assisted the chief architect of this garden, Miss Joanne Corbett, with good humour, hard labour and determination at every stage.
Past pupils Ken Thompson, Jason Hall and Ciaran Boyle came to help for a few days- or so they thought. Weeks later they were still on site and worked tirelessly to see the job through.
Current students from the B5 Horticulture and 5th year Agricultural Science classes as well as the woodwork classes in 5th year were key to the success of the project. They are a credit to themselves, their parents and families and to their teachers and school.
The final result is a beautiful wildlife friendly garden that is also a relaxing and beautiful space for students and staff to enjoy not only now but in the years and decades ahead.