Our Open Space Peaceful Picnic Garden

Our Open Space Peaceful Picnic Garden

North Presentation Secondary School, Cork

The Social Issue

This team of students were united in their concern about the wellbeing of their school community after new rules restricted students’ lunchtime movements which resulted in lunchtime being a source of tension. A feasibility study undertaken by the students asked 200 pupils across their school community to rate their wellbeing. 67% of those surveyed indicated that they felt “sad” or “only okay”.

The Idea

Inspired by UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, at all ages", the team decided to design an outdoor garden as a place the whole school community could enjoy, where fellow students could relax, converse and eat in a peaceful and colourful surrounding. A whopping 100% of students surveyed supported the idea of outside space as a “nice place to be with friends”, “have a place to sit and think”, and “to get fresh air and relax”. They also hoped it could become an outdoor classroom for all year groups, and wanted to help promote biodiversity in the area and provide food for pollinators like bees.

Garnering support from the school, the students sought advice, borrowed tools, and negotiated sponsorships to bring their garden to life. They borrowed equipment from a number of local organisations. A local garden centre provided advice and seedlings, trees and shrubs and wildflowers to support bio-diversity. Dulux sponsored the project and funding was also received through the YSI Den. 

We have inspired the primary school to take care of our environment and we have taught our community how to be responsible for their plant life. Our school community now use our Open Space Peaceful Picnic Garden for mental health and wellbeing of all.

The Impact

The team seen a positive difference in their school as a result of their efforts. Student wellbeing classes have been hosted for year groups across the school in the new space. They hope that the legacy of their garden will provide a peaceful haven for children from the community for years to come and that they will also learn about being responsible for the environment and plant life.  The team's unyielding effort to help their school community was rewarded at the Young Social Innovators Ireland Awards when they took home the Make Our World a Better Place for Young People Challenge Award.