School and quarry team up for trees
10 December 2007
Pupils from Fair Hill Primary School in Dromore, Co. Down, as part of National Tree Week, helped Edentrillick Quarry support local wildlife by planting native trees and shrubs. The quarry applied for free trees from Conservation Volunteers.
Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland brought together the school and the quarry as part of the Northern Ireland Tree Campaign to help the children understand a little about why both trees and quarries are important to us. The trees, all native to the area, will help stabilise a bank that protects the River Lagan from runoff from the quarry and provide perfect habitat for local wildlife.
As a bonus, all the children had a guided tour of the quarry to see how it works, and where stone for our roads and buildings comes from.
Joshua Truesdale, member of Fair Hill Primary School ECO Club said, “We are pleased to be part of this project. As being an eco-friendly school we value the importance of trees in the environment and believe that everyone needs to play their part. One of our aims is to create new habitats for wildlife and this project aims to do this also.”
Kate Creaner from Edentrillick Quarry said, “The Company has made a commitment to continually improve our environmental performance and have carried out various habitat enhancements along the River Lagan to date. We are very grateful to Conservation Volunteers and Fair Hill Primary School for assisting us with this project”.
Laverne Bell from the Quarry Products Association said, “As land managers, the quarry products industry has significant control over biodiversity. Creating new habitats for wildlife, like the woodland that Edentrillick Quarry are planting in partnership with their neighbouring primary school and Conservation Volunteers, are important steps that quarry companies in Northern Ireland are taking in understanding and putting into action their important role in biodiversity conservation”.
The Free Tree scheme is open to schools and community groups across Northern Ireland. For more details contact Andy Smith, Biodiversity Officer on 028 9185 2817 or download an application form from this website www.cvni.org/nitc/
| Relevant links |
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| Free Trees |
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| Quarry Products Association |