Coillte brings forestry experience to Mayo students

COILLTE, Ireland’s semi-state forestry company, has partnered with St. Tiernan’s College, Crossmolina, through the Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI) Business Action on Education Initiative.

St. Tiernan’s College recently joined the programme and is one of four schools that Coillte has partnered with across the country.

Through the BITC World of Work programme, Coillte collaborated with a class of 28 second year students from St. Tiernan’s. Over a series of planned visits throughout the school year, students were introduced to the working world of Coillte and the diverse roles within the forestry sector.

Throughout the programme, which is mostly classroom-based, students learned of the multiple benefits of forests for climate, nature, wood and people and their local community.

A highlight for the students included a site visit to Coillte’s Sheskin Forest, near Ballycastle.

The wrap up event for this year’s initiative took place in Coillte’s Avondale Forest Park in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow, where students visited the Beyond the Trees experience. They also had the opportunity to meet fellow students from other schools who have partnered with Coillte.

Lorraine McHale, deputy principal and SBP coordinating teacher at St. Tiernan’s College, said: “We are delighted to begin a partnership with Coillte and BITCI. The programme provides students with an opportunity to learn about a business in their community. It also promotes the idea of sustainability.

“As part of the programme, we planted trees on our school grounds which will be there for years to come. Overall, it creates a great sense of community and inclusion, which is important to us in St Tiernan’s.”

Darren Reynolds, forester, Coillte, said: “We are delighted to support this important initiative and to give students the opportunity to learn more about forestry and the industry in their local area. We hope this initiative will encourage students to consider forestry as a career in the future.

“We look forward to continuing this partnership and working with St. Tiernan’s College in the coming years ahead.”