Downpatrick Schools Plant Trees At Dunleath Park

Local schools plant trees for our future in Dunleath Park

By
admin
-

Local schools plant trees for our future in Dunleath Park

Pupils from Down High School, Blackwater Integrated College and St Patrick’s Grammar School Downpatrick along with the Quoile branch of the Women’s Institute planted 500 trees in Dunleath Playing Fields on Friday 25 March.

Down High School who made the Notice to Motion to plant the 300 trees at a Council meeting, take part in the planting with teachers Heather Hamilton and Rachel Wilson. Included are the Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Cathy Mason with Dorinnia Carville, Director of Corporate Services, and Cllr Oonagh Hanlon.
St. Patrick’s Grammar School pupils with the Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Cllr Cathy Mason; Dorinnia Carville, Council Director of Corporate Services; and Cllr Oonagh Hanlon with teacher Celeste McEvoy.

The tree planting event originated from Down High School, the winners of Council’s Local Democracy ‘Dragon’s Den’ style debate which took place in October. The ‘Notice of Motion’ was debated by six schools on the theme of ‘Protecting the environment, local communities take action.’  

The students put forward their ideas on organising an Eco-Fun Day and a tree planting event for the local community to promote and demonstrate the Council’s commitment to tackling Climate Change.

Pupils from Blackwater Integrated School helping to plant 300 trees in Downpatrick with the Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down Council, Cllr Cathy Mason; Dorinnia Carville, Council Director of Corporate Services and Deputy CEO, and Cllr Oonagh Hanlon.

Members of the Quoile Women’s Institute were invited to assist local pupils to plant 500 trees in Dunleath Playing Field in recognition of the Women’s Institute ‘Plant a Tree for our Future’ Climate Change Initiative.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Cathy Mason, said “I am delighted that we have been able to fulfil the Notice of Motion ‘Protecting the environment, local communities take action’, debated by Down High School during Council’s celebrations of Local Democracy Week. The pupils from Down High School Eco Group understand that it is their generation’s duty to continue to tackle climate change.”

Down High School pupils Sara McGeown-Hamilton, Cherith Woods, Ashia Erskine and Anna Shiel put the Notice of Motion to the Council at a meeting and this resulted in three schools arriving to plant 300 trees at Dunleath Park. The girls with teachers Heather Hamilton, and Rachel Wilson, are pictured with Cllr Oonagh Hanlon; Cllr Cathy Mason, Chairperson of Newry Mourne and Down Council; and Dorinnia Carville, Council Director of Corporate Services. The pupils were delighted that their request had been fulfilled by the Council.

Cllr Mason added: “The Council understands the importance of trees and their role in keeping us and our environment healthy and we are delighted to support the pupils by planting 500 trees here at Dunleath Park today.”

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR