Slow but Steady Progress

We are indeed making slow but steady progress at the outdoor recycling. First week back, we were useless - mixed rubbish in both blue and black bins. However, after a bit of consciousness raising and kicking ourselves, the second week has produced a huge improvement. Keep kicking, and telling yourself - blue bin, bottles and cans. Bottles and Cans Bottles and Cans Bottles and Cans Bottles and Cans Bottles and Cans

Squirrel Boxes Progress

Gerry Magowan in technology, and Jean Forbes, governor, have been working hard on our red squirrel feeders and two are nearing completion. We will be looking for volunteers to keep them stocked with food, and the boxes clean and free from squirrel pox. Throughout our project, we have been supported by George Hanna, retired forester, who has been an invaluable source of local information on red squirrels, and the successful project already underway in Tollymore Forest.

Gardening Next

We have just received our Level one gardening certificate from the Royal Horticultural Society. We have long standing plans for our grounds and plenty of work has been competed over the years, for example the tree planing which gives us the grove beside the bendy fence. The next step will be the creation of our food garden, and you can watch this space to see how we get on.

Red Squirrel Feeders

We have taken delivery of our first red squirrel feeder and Gerry has taken it to bits to make a pattern which we will be able to use to make some more. Watch this space.

Roll Out the Blue Bins

Danas Kurmis, Daniel Allen and Daniel Irwin joined Robbie Mulholland in making the final decisions as to where the new blue recycling bins will go. When next year's term starts, the bins, and the new black landfill bins will all be in place. The good thing about the new bins is that they will work on the same recycling rules as our blue home bins.

Red Squirrel Triumph

Anne Carlin, who is always the first person into school in the morning, met a red squirrel in our grounds! She says there is usually a group of greys playing round our gates when she arrives to open up. This is really good news, because our year 8s are heading off to Tollymore in June to find out about our red squirrel population, and to set up feeding boxes which will keep up the food supplies for the reds, even if the greys are bigger and stronger and eat up most of what is available naturally.

Big Boxes

Those big boxes in the hall are the new outdoor recycling bins arriving. They are the bins won by year 9 for all their fantastic eco work over the last two terms. It's really good to see such a tangible outcome.