Free trees available to Mayo primary schools for National Tree Day
Schools across the county are invited to claim free Scots Pine saplings for October 1 event
Primary schools across Mayo are being invited to claim one of 2,000 free Scots Pine saplings as part of Glennon Brothers National Tree Day on Thursday, October 1.
The initiative, organised by the Tree Council of Ireland and supported for a second year by Glennon Brothers, encourages primary school children to get outdoors, plant a tree and learn about the important role trees and forests play in everyday life.
Last year, 53 primary schools across Mayo claimed a free tree as part of National Tree Day.
This year’s theme, ‘Planting for the Planet’, will encourage children to explore how trees support wildlife and biodiversity, capture and store carbon, and provide a renewable natural resource that can be used to produce timber for homes and communities.
Schools can claim a free Scots Pine sapling, while teachers can also access classroom resources, nature activities and information about the native Scots Pine, or An Giúis.
Pat Glennon of Glennon Brothers said National Tree Day gives children an opportunity to take practical action for the environment.
“Planting and caring for a tree helps bring to life the importance of trees and forests and the role they can play for generations to come,” he said.
Felicity Gaffney, President of the Tree Council of Ireland, said the initiative was about turning learning into action and helping children understand how trees provide habitats for wildlife and capture carbon.
The 2,000 saplings and educational resources are being provided free to primary schools nationwide through the partnership between Glennon Brothers and the Tree Council of Ireland.
The Scots Pine is one of Ireland’s native tree species and provides an important habitat and food source for wildlife.
Mayo schools can find out more and claim their free sapling through Tree Day.