Local schools awarded for bio-economy project

Two local national schools made “a little bit of history” when they were among the first five Irish schools to receive an award for their participation in a ground breaking new EU-funded project that gives young people a greater understanding of the bio-economy.

Over the last four months, fifth and sixth class students in St Colman’s NS and Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn enjoyed six outdoor learning sessions to gain a greater understanding of the importance of a circular and sustainable bioeconomy, as part of the BioBeo project, which in Ireland is being led by academics from UCD and the Froebel School of Education, Maynooth University.

The BioBeo team defines the bio-economy as “a way of using natural resources to produce food, energy, and products for living while taking care to protect the Earth at the same time”.

Mullingar man James Lowry, a PHD student at the Froebel School of Education and one of the researchers on the project, was the person tasked with facilitating the outdoor classes in St Colman’s and Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn, as well as schools in Ringsend, Dublin, Clare Island off Mayo and St Mary’s Special School in Navan, where James teaches.

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, James praised students and staff at both local schools for their enthusiasm and work throughout the project.

“The themes of interconnectedness, outdoor learning, the food loop, life below water and forests were all investigated and explored in the outdoor classroom,” said James. “By creating a mini school pond, planting a school woodland (an Coillín Beag) and planting a food garden for humans and our pollinator friends, the bees, the pupils managed to fully engage and connect with nature and learn how the circular bioeconomy has many solutions for us in learning how to connect with our planet in a practical, caring way which can help us to live ecologically and sustainably.

“The children reported back with great enthusiasm of their enjoyment and flourishing in the ‘outdoor classroom without walls’.

“As a nice finale, BioBeo schools have teamed up with the Irish agroforestry forum CROFT project for a final visit in this summer term. In the CROFT workshop, the school receives a beautiful hand-woven willow basket filled with Irish organic vegetables and a pack of great educational resources on the theme of food and trees and forests and the school garden all working in harmony.

“The children are exploring how trees and farming are a match made in heaven, as trees are the perfect way to help farm animals, the soil and horticulture to flourish.

“In the one-day workshop, the children then participate by learning how to make a delicious organic vegetable soup in the classroom.

“Both school were delighted to be the first of five Irish schools to receive their inaugural BioBeo award.

“They had participated in the online Brussels BioBeo Festival in March to be congratulated by the EU Commission for their fantastic work.

“It’s a little bit of history in the making for two brilliant schools in Westmeath. Maynooth University along with UCD, who coordinate the European project, would like to express their huge gratitude to the principals, teachers and brilliant students for their commitment, dedication and generosity for the project.”