Sperrin Integrated College, Magherafelt
Date: 11 March 2008
No. of trees planted: 160
No. of people involved: 43
We arrived at Sperrin Integrated College on a wet and windy March afternoon. The school is a relatively new integrated college on the outskirts of Magherafelt and is set on a large 26-acre site. The latest building work was only completed and opened in 2007 and the school wanted to enhance the grounds and encourage wildlife by planting a variety of trees along the school’s boundary fence.
Forty pupils led by three teachers helped to plant a mixture of 160 native trees including oak, rowan, ash and birch. A range of waterproof footwear was on display with some of the girls wearing very colourful wellies and one female teacher wore a very fashionable pair of thigh length waders!
Unfortunately, rain interrupted the planting for a short while but work soon resumed and the children planted a large, previously bare, area at the rear of the school premises. The aptly named headteacher, Mr Rowan, came to see the activity and to encourage the children and staff. The afternoon ended with local press arriving to take some photographs of the children at work.
The teaching staff at the school plan to incorporate the project into Geography and Science lessons.