Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh > News & Events > Celebrating 150 years of Omagh CBS > Tree Planting Scheme


	The first Christian Brothers came to Omagh and opened a school on 14th January 1861. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the opening of this first Christian Brothers' school in Omagh, a tree will be planted for every student currently at the school. Year 14 Applied Business Studies students have set up a mini-enterprise with the aim of selling and planting an additional 150 trees to help mark this momentous occasion. This means that over 1100 trees will be planted in local communities around Omagh during National Tree Planting Week, which runs from 27^th November to 5^th December. The Conservation Volunteers and Omagh District Council will work with Year 8 and Year 14 CBS students to plant the trees at An Creggan Centre, Loughnacrory Community Centre, Drumduff/ Drumnakilley, Eskra Community Centre, the Sugar and Spice Playgroup, Drumquin and at the school’s playing fields at Coolnagard. The most common species being planted will be alder, birch and rowan as the sites generally have quite wet acidic conditions, with ash and oak being planted in some of the sites where ground conditions are drier. The CBS tree project will go a long way in supporting our local wildlife. Woodland is an important habitat that is continually under threat and it is worrying that the UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with only 4% native woodland cover. The extensive tree planting project will also make a major contribution to lowering the carbon footprint of the school. This project will also help deliver a local Omagh District Council initiative, the Omagh Local Biodiversity Action Plan, that aims to conserve and enhance Omagh's biodiversity. Through planting more woodland in Omagh, this project will help to combat climate change, improve the environment and provide much needed spaces for wildlife and people and it is hoped that it will enhance our local environment for the next 150 years. This will be a valuable educational experience for the CBS students as Martin Lawson from CVNI and Julie Connolly, the Biodiversity Officer from Omagh District Council, will also work with our students to explain how to plant and look after trees and the importance of conservation and biodiversity for our environment. The Year 14 Applied Business Studies students invited local businesses to purchase a tree and to make a contribution to help cover any travel costs incurred in the tree planting venture and would like to acknowledge the support received from the local business community, especially The Shoppers Rest, Omagh Cinema, Sally’s nightclub and McDermott’s and Sons. All money left over from the venture will be donated to school’s main charity, the St. Vincent De Paul society, to assist with the excellent work the society does in our local community. Year 8 and Year 14 CBS students pictured with Principal Mr Paul Brannigan, CBS teachers Miss Therese O’Connor & Mrs Corona McMorrow, Martin Lawson and volunteers from CVNI, Julie Connolly and Des McLaughlin from Omagh District Council, staff from Sugar and Spice Playgroup, Drumquinn, The first Christian Brothers came to Omagh and opened a school on 14th January 1861. In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the opening of this first Christian Brothers' school in Omagh, a tree will be planted for every student currently at the school. Year 14 Applied Business Studies students have set up a mini-enterprise with the aim of selling and planting an additional 150 trees to help mark this momentous occasion. This means that over 1100 trees will be planted in local communities around Omagh during National Tree Planting Week, which runs from 27^th November to 5^th December. The Conservation Volunteers and Omagh District Council will work with Year 8 and Year 14 CBS students to plant the trees at An Creggan Centre, Loughnacrory Community Centre, Drumduff/ Drumnakilley, Eskra Community Centre, the Sugar and Spice Playgroup, Drumquin and at the school’s playing fields at Coolnagard. The most common species being planted will be alder, birch and rowan as the sites generally have quite wet acidic conditions, with ash and oak being planted in some of the sites where ground conditions are drier. The CBS tree project will go a long way in supporting our local wildlife. Woodland is an important habitat that is continually under threat and it is worrying that the UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe with only 4% native woodland cover. The extensive tree planting project will also make a major contribution to lowering the carbon footprint of the school. This project will also help deliver a local Omagh District Council initiative, the Omagh Local Biodiversity Action Plan, that aims to conserve and enhance Omagh's biodiversity. Through planting more woodland in Omagh, this project will help to combat climate change, improve the environment and provide much needed spaces for wildlife and people and it is hoped that it will enhance our local environment for the next 150 years. This will be a valuable educational experience for the CBS students as Martin Lawson from CVNI and Julie Connolly, the Biodiversity Officer from Omagh District Council, will also work with our students to explain how to plant and look after trees and the importance of conservation and biodiversity for our environment. The Year 14 Applied Business Studies students invited local businesses to purchase a tree and to make a contribution to help cover any travel costs incurred in the tree planting venture and would like to acknowledge the support received from the local business community, especially The Shoppers Rest, Omagh Cinema, Sally’s nightclub and McDermott’s and Sons. All money left over from the venture will be donated to school’s main charity, the St. Vincent De Paul society, to assist with the excellent work the society does in our local community. Year 8 and Year 14 CBS students pictured with Principal Mr Paul Brannigan, CBS teachers Miss Therese O’Connor & Mrs Corona McMorrow, Martin Lawson and volunteers from CVNI, Julie Connolly and Des McLaughlin from Omagh District Council, staff from Sugar and Spice Playgroup, Drumquinn,

Contact Details
Address: Christian Brothers Grammar School, Kevlin Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 1LD
Telephone: 028 8224 3567 Fax: 028 8224 0656 E Mail: info@cbs.omagh.ni.sch.uk