Spar leads National Tree Day with school tree-planting initiative
The Tree Council of Ireland, in partnership with Spar, is supplying 2,000 free Native Irish Hawthorn saplings to primary schools for Spar National Tree Day on 3 October
Print2 October 2024
The Tree Council of Ireland, in partnership with Spar, is encouraging primary schools across Ireland to connect with nature and plant a tree on Spar National Tree Day this Thursday, 3 October 2024.
The campaign, themed “Trees are Magic- Draíocht na gCrann” is calling on children, teachers and parents to take the pledge and plant one of the 2,000 Native Irish Hawthorn tree saplings that are free to primary schools.
Educational activities
Spar National Tree Day is dedicated to celebrating and promoting the importance of trees in the environment, encouraging primary school children, teachers, and families across Ireland to connect with nature through educational activities and tree planting.
This year’s campaign focuses on the native Hawthorn tree, also known as Crataegus monogyna or An Sceach Gheal, which has roots in folklore and is believed to have special magical properties; importantly it plays a vital role in Ireland’s ecosystem.
A native Irish species, the Hawthorn tree thrives in deciduous woodlands and hedgerows.
It is known for its distinctive white flowers and vibrant red berries, which provide essential food for birds and insects.
Important for biodiversity, the Hawthorn tree also holds a special place in Irish folklore, where it is known as the fairy tree, where fairies, known as Sidhe, gather.
Fairy doors
For this year’s Spar National Tree Day, Spar will also be planting some magic under its trees in stores across the country.
For the month of October, participating Spar stores will be home to a fairy who will be inviting local children to leave a wish at their door.
Each fairy door will have a QR code for parents to scan, share their child’s wish and be in with the chance of making their child’s wish brought to life.
“Spar National Tree Day is a fantastic opportunity to foster a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature and its trees among primary school children and this year’s theme encourages us to look beyond the ordinary and appreciate the extraordinary and magical role trees play in our lives,” said Cormac Downey, president, Tree Council of Ireland.
Next generation
“We believe that education is key to fostering a deeper connection with nature,” said Colin Donnelly, sales director, Spar.
Donnelly noted that by providing resources and opportunities for children to learn about trees and their ecosystems, Spar hopes to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
To learn more about this year’s Spar National Tree Day and for schools to claim their free native Irish Hawthorn tree sapling, visit here.
Read more: Spar announces competition for National Tree Day 2024
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