Orla Farrell always had a dream of growing a gigantic forest since she heard in school when she was 6 that Ireland was the worst in Europe for tree cover. She was hoping that some day, she would win the lotto and then buy an enormous bit of land, a few counties maybe and plant it there. But as she never bought a lotto ticket, that has not happened yet. In the meantime, she has been planting tiny forests with the children in her school. The first one they planted was in the year 2,000 and while it is tiny the trees are now higher than the roof of the school and it is a home for lots of wildlife. They liked it so much they decided to plant another one at the Junior school last year; everybody loves it much more than plain ordinary old grass, (except for the caretaker, Pat, who loves cutting grass on the ride-on mower; he is starting to like it though because we planted him a special tree). Our tiny forest in Baldoyle is filled with birds, insects and every sort of creature but best of all lots of native trees including wild apple! We call it a badly-spelled name because our forests are one ARE in size, that is ten by ten metres, which is the sort of minimum-apartment-size for wildlife. Well okay there is no actual minimum but this is a great size because it does not need too much watering or minding as it creates a micro-climate and hey, you won't drive your buggy over it by accident or indeed a lawnmower. Lots of people love our idea and are helping us. We are quite worn out going to prize givings, we are thinking of not accepting any more prizes because we are too busy planting to be gadding off all the time eating free lunches. We are helping other schools to do the same as us this year and next Winter we are holding our first Tree Academy in our school with Plant for the Planet. Learn more about our Tiny Forest project here. PS. One last thing; for every tree we plant in Ireland we sponsor another one in schools who can't afford the one euro per sapling in poorer countries.
They need some info about us so this is what we sent them...
Orla Farrell always had a dream of growing a gigantic forest since she heard in school when she was 6 that Ireland was the worst in Europe for tree cover. She was hoping that some day, she would win the lotto and then buy an enormous bit of land, a few counties maybe and plant it there. But as she never bought a lotto ticket, that has not happened yet. In the meantime, she has been planting tiny forests with the children in her school. The first one they planted was in the year 2,000 and while it is tiny the trees are now higher than the roof of the school and it is a home for lots of wildlife. They liked it so much they decided to plant another one at the Junior school last year; everybody loves it much more than plain ordinary old grass, (except for the caretaker, Pat, who loves cutting grass on the ride-on mower; he is starting to like it though because we planted him a special tree). Our tiny forest in Baldoyle is filled with birds, insects and every sort of creature but best of all lots of native trees including wild apple! We call it a badly-spelled name because our forests are one ARE in size, that is ten by ten metres, which is the sort of minimum-apartment-size for wildlife. Well okay there is no actual minimum but this is a great size because it does not need too much watering or minding as it creates a micro-climate and hey, you won't drive your buggy over it by accident or indeed a lawnmower. Lots of people love our idea and are helping us. We are quite worn out going to prize givings, we are thinking of not accepting any more prizes because we are too busy planting to be gadding off all the time eating free lunches. We are helping other schools to do the same as us this year and next Winter we are holding our first Tree Academy in our school with Plant for the Planet. Learn more about our Tiny Forest project here. PS. One last thing; for every tree we plant in Ireland we sponsor another one in schools who can't afford the one euro per sapling in poorer countries.
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CONGRATULATIONS!
You have joined a select group of international schools that want to lead against the biggest threat to our youth, climate change. Your leadership will set an unprecedented example to follow in your community and around the world. We will get in touch with you shortly but in the meantime why not share your success with your network & school? Better yet, why not also involve your parents, teachers & students to Act-On-Climate by starting to reduce your carbon footprint with one of the things you have comitted to? Celebrate your committment by telling everyone how your school will Act-On-Climate & Cut the RED Tape! A community tha stands together, stays together! More to come soon... With gratitute, the Cut the RED Tape team! Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Calculate our CO2 footprint every 2 years*yes Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Implement energy efficiency strategies and reduce our C02 footprint while we plan for Carbon Neutrality by 2030 reducing what we can and offsetting what we cannot.yes Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Institute sustainability principles in our school's core mission and vision statementsyes Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Involve the entire school community in environmental education and stewardshipyes Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Introduce & enhance Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) curriculayes Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Start implementing renewable energy within the next 5 yearsno Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Institute a No-Idle policy on school grounds & pick-up areasno Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Create a sustainable and environmentally friendly procurement policyno Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Host MEATLESS MONDAY or a meatless vegetarian meal any day of the weekno Recognizing that Climate Change is the biggest threat to our Youth's future, WE are providing leadership and social responsibility by joining an international coalition of Colleges & Schools to #ActOnClimate & #CutTheRedTape for Climate Action. By signing this declaration we will commit to create a multi-stakeholder GreenTeam and: -Go paperlessno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Calcular nuestra huella de Carbono (CO2) cada dos años*no Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Poner en práctica estrategias de reducción de nuestra huella de C02 mientras embarcamos hacia la neutralidad carbónica para el año 2030 reduciendo lo que podamos y compensando lo que no.no Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Instituir principios de sostenibilidad en nuestras declaraciones de misión y visión de las mismasno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Involucrar a toda la comunidad escolar en la educación ambientalno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Introducir y mejorar los planes de estudio de educación para el desarrollo sostenibleno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Utilizar la energía renovable en los próximos 5 añosno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Instituir una nueva politica de no dejar motores encendidos dentro de la escuela o en las areas de levantamiento de estudiantes a su alrededorno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Crear una politca de compra sustentable y amigable con el medio ambienteno Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Auspiciar/Fomentar programa LUNES SIN CARNE (Meatless Monday) o incluir un dia vegetariano en el menu de la semana.no Proveeremos liderazgo y responsabilidad con nuestra sociedad uniéndonos a la coalición internacional de Escuelas y Universidades que actúan frente al Cambio Climático y que quieren cortar los obstáculos para la acción contra él. Reconociendo que el cambio climático es la mayor amenaza para el futuro de nuestros estudiantes, las escuelas que firmamos esta declaración nos comprometmos a: -Independencia del papelno School NameSt. Laurence NS WildAREness Project School ContactMs Orla Farrell SCHOOL ADDRESSGrange Road, Baldoyle Dublin 13 Dublin Dublin D13 XE37 Ireland www.CuttheREDTapeProject.org |
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