School gardens to blossom
Take note kids, there’s only a couple of weeks left to get your entries into this year’s Cork School Garden Competition.
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.
Sponsored by Cork city and county councils and organised by Cork County Muintir na Tíre, the competition has a prize fund of over €5,000.
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 recently launched the competition.
Speaking at the launch, 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.”
Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Tony Fitzgerald said: “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 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,” she said.
“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.”
Special guests at the launch included Eoghan and Oisín O’Mahony and their mom Claire, representing Conna National School, the overall winners in 2019.
Full competition details are available from Cork County Federation Muintir na Tíre at 8 Sidney Place, Wellington Road, Cork City or phone 021-4500688.
The closing date for competition entry is Good Friday, 15 April.