As part of the Lower Crumlin survey results, Aughavanagh Road was highlighted as a road with no streets trees or grass verges, high grey walls and large areas of tarmac in the local school.
In early 2022, a trial planter project was put in place to help add add some greenery to the outside of Scoil Iosagain school. Bloomin’ Crumlin volunteers Beta and Alex worked with Scoil Iosagain to trial a handful of railing planters. The planters were a success and further conversations were held with the school about a planter project to allow kids, parents and neighbours to plant and maintain whilst adding biodiversity and colour to the front of the heavily tarmacked school Scoil Iosagain had added some great colourful murals to the school walls recently which helped brighten the school and street up.
We decided to try and make the planters ourselves. Carpenter and legend Paddy Slevin helped us source materials, design, cut and assemble the planters. Over the course of the November bank holiday weekend, volunteers spent three days cutting, assembling, painting and putting lining on the planters.. It was exhausting work but as usual the great community spirit shone through and in total 21 wooden planters were created.
Next up, we tried to figure out how we could get soil, pebbles and plants to the school. Thankfully the hugely helpful Landscape Depot delivered and lifted them over the fence for us as the pencil bollards outside make it impossible for large trucks to enter the school. Winter is always a hard time to buy plants and bulbs but Fiann O Nualainn worked with Colm from the Green Kitchen to source plants for the project. A date was set for planting and neighbours around the area helped distribute them to all the houses surrounding the school. The school principal Aoife was very supportive and helped us access to the school throughout the process.
Planting day came and like clockwork, it starts to hailstone in the morning. Bad weather can really have a negative effect on participants and it’s difficult to determine how many people might turn up when the weather turns bad. However, the locals as always didn’t disappoint.Over 30 volunteers, from aged 3 upwards came to help with the planting and despite heavy rainfall, the 13 tonnes of soil and pebbles were shovelled, the plants were planted and the railing planters installed. Fiann O Nuallain was on hand to give advice on how to plant and share knowledge on the planting activity. Local Dessie Farell took some fantastic photos of the event as can be seen below.
It was a great team effort from the community. The volunteers didn’t leave empty handed as Carmel from the community team in Dublin City Council had provided lovely chocolate sets, selection boxes and biscuits as a thank you to all the volunteers for their continued efforts during the year.
Thanks to everyone for being so helpful and supportive of the project and hopefully it will be the start of more nice projects around the area.
Looking forward to seeing the planters bloom throughout the year.
The project was funded by prize-money we won throughout the year, donations and fundraising.
Date: 2022
Thanks: Beta, Paddy Slevin, Alex, Jenny, Stephen M, Steve N, Shane, Karen, Caoimhe N, Caoimhe C, Ailbhe, Anne W, Olga T, Virginia, Fiann, Colm C, Dessie Farell(Photos), Aoife(Scoil Iosagain) and all of the wonderful pupils, parent, neighbours and other volunteers who helped plant on the day.
Wood sourced from TJ O Mahony, paint from paintworld.ie, hire tools from hirehere.ie, soil from landscapedepot.ie, plants from Green Kitchen Walkinstown. Thanks to Carmel and the local community team in DCC for the chocolate and biscuits
