Laois students plant 185 trees in a single day

Transition Year students at Portlaoise College, with the help of visiting French Erasmus student Meye Dorts, planted an impressive 185 trees on the school grounds on Monday, March 10. 

The initiative, supported by Portlaoise Tidy Towns and Trees for the Land, is part of the school’s ambitious Biodiversity Action Plan.

Brian Gaynor from Trees for the Land provided the trees, gloves, and spades, guiding students in planting a mix of native fruit trees, beech, blackthorn, and hazel. Staff members, including SNA Diarmuid Quinlan, Mr. Gleeson, Mr. Daly, and Ms. Holland, also lent a hand.

This latest project aligns with the Biodiversity Action Plan, developed by last year’s TY students to enhance outdoor learning, protect biodiversity, and raise awareness. Since September, students have maintained meadowland to support pollinators, set up biodiversity displays, and promoted sustainability through social media and school presentations.

“This project is a fantastic example of hands-on learning and environmental stewardship,” said Portlaoise College Principal Noel Daly. “Our TYs are not just learning about sustainability—they’re actively making a difference.”

The initiative fits into the TY student's Erasmus project on sustainability, further embedding environmental responsibility in students' education. The students welcome their Spanish counterparts to the school in two weeks where they will continue to develop and disseminate their sustainability approach. With Ms Holland’s TY Heritage Studies class already planning their next biodiversity project, Portlaoise College remains a leader in ecological action.