Hopes for the future
Borrisokane school wins outdoor classroom through Coill na nÓg
Scoil Mhuire Borrisokane was announced as one of three national winners of the Coill na nÓg biodiversity initiative, securing an outdoor classroom package valued at €4,000 as part of the nationwide programme supported by eFlow and Biodiversity in Schools.
Coill na nÓg (the children’s forest in Irish) is one of Ireland’s largest biodiversity and native tree-planting initiatives for schools, encouraging students to engage with nature through outdoor learning, biodiversity activities, and climate action projects.
The competition was launched in October 2025 inviting schools across Ireland to share photos and videos showcasing students exploring local woodlands, planting native trees, and learning about biodiversity through hands-on outdoor experiences. The competition closed in December 2025 and received 133 entries from 96 schools nationwide.
Scoil Mhuire Borrisokane impressed judges with a rich and varied winning submission through their Instagram video demonstrating a deep and consistent commitment to biodiversity and outdoor education. The entry highlighted a strong focus on trees and hedgerows, with students engaging in a wide range of nature-based activities including acorn and pinecone exploration, apple and berry foraging, leaf identification, leaf pounding, mud kitchen-style play, and nature-inspired art.
The school also showcased ongoing initiatives such as a ‘Tree of the Month’ programme, alongside tree-planting activities that reinforce long-term environmental stewardship and learning. Judges praised the creativity, consistency, and impact of the school’s approach, noting both the strong environmental outcomes and the positive influence on student engagement with nature.
The submission reflected a wider ethos of fostering connection and care for the natural world, capturing the sentiment that every tree represents hope for the future and a shared responsibility for protecting biodiversity.
The outdoor classroom prize will help further enhance the school’s learning environment, providing students with a dedicated space for outdoor lessons, biodiversity projects, wellbeing activities, and creative engagement with nature.
Speaking about the initiative, Mark Nolan, Director of Biodiversity in Schools said: “Scoil Mhuire Borrisokane consistently showed their dedication to biodiversity and outdoor education with a focus on nature-based activities and outdoor play for their student body. Their environmental impact is inspiring and as they said in their competition entry, ‘every tree is a hope for the future, just like us’.”
Roisin Barton Murray, Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s eFlow Public Information Manager commented: “Scoil Mhuire Borrisokane showed a real depth of commitment to biodiversity through everyday, hands‑on activities that encourage children to notice, care for and learn from the natural world around them. TII is proud to support a programme that helps schools build this sense of responsibility and connection with nature while creating outdoor spaces that support learning and wellbeing.”
eFlow, operators of barrier-free tolling on Dublin’s M50 motorway, partnered with Biodiversity in Schools to support the Coill na nÓg initiative and encourage young people across Ireland to connect with biodiversity and climate action in meaningful, hands-on ways.