Wildlife gardens at school doorsteps

Why not bring outdoor field trips to your school grounds, ask Conservation Volunteers Ireland (CVI). The organisation has a practical plan for presenting natural science examples to schoolgoers on a regular basis. CVI suggest that Conservation Volunteers be invited into schools to create a wildlife garden - with pupils becoming involved in lighter tasks such as planting and mulching. CVI says it will provide additional resource material so teachers can continue further field studies. Call Dale Threadwell at (01) 4547185. Other activities run by CVI, of which the President Mrs Mary McAleese is patron, include weekday, weekend and week-long practical conservation projects, international exchange programmes and the millennium urban forest campaign.