Last week, Michael, one of our parents, visited our classroom to talk to us about his work with Coillte. Michael spoke about the role of Coillte in creating a sustainable future for all while managing the state forests on behalf of the Irish people. He also told us about the trees grown in Ireland (including native and non-native) and how trees and forests can be negatively impacted by severe weather, fire and beetles such as the European Spruce Bark Beetle. He showed us videos on forest fires and we were shocked and saddened to see the devastating impact of fires on the entire woodland habitat. With Storm Eowyn just over, Michael spoke about the damage it had caused to trees and woodland throughout the country. Michael also told us about the harvesting of wood, the usefulness of wooded areas for recreational purposes and, of course, the role of trees in promoting biodiversity. Before leaving, Michael gifted each one of us with handcrafted wooden keyrings. This was a very interesting talk and we thank Michael for giving up his time to speak to us.
