UCC Community Garden News

29 Apr 2024

UCC Community Garden is now in full swing. Seedlings are being planted into warmer soil, birds (such as Goldfinch, Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit and of course Robin, the gardener’s friend) are calling and singing. Peas, salad leaves and a plethora of herbs are amongst the greenery that’s ready to eat.

Accompanying this vibrancy is increased use of outdoor spaces on campus. With better weather, now is the time to study outside, take lunch time walks along UCC’s biodiversity trail, and soak up the diversity of the campus’ no-mow areas.

Accompanying this vibrancy is increased use of outdoor spaces on campus. With better weather, now is the time to study outside, take lunch time walks along UCC’s biodiversity trail, and soak up the diversity of the campus’ no-mow areas.

This is also a great time for outdoor learning and engagement while immersed in green spaces. This year, thus far, we have had wonderful outdoor learning sessions with classes in sociology, global citizenship education and early childhood studies, with a microbiology class visiting UCC Community Garden too.

This was facilitated by wonderful academics and teachers. Dr. Fiona Dukelow kindly entrusted Irene Ní Shúilleabháin, Greenshoots Coordinator, with co-facilitating a class outside which connected theoretical concepts to natural processes. Dr. Gertrude Cotter included Irene in her class on environmental themes in UCC’s University Wide module in Global Citizenship and Development Education. Dr. Jerry Reen’s microbiology class sampled UCC Community Garden’s soil to understand its microbial make-up; a wonderful example of community-engaged science. Finally, Marcella Towler, a lecturer passionate about outdoor teaching and learning for all ages, brought students of Early Childhood Studies to UCC Community garden to get stuck into the practical application of green-space immersed learning.

The benefits of time spent in green spaces includes improved cognitive capacity, restored mental faculties, a reduction in stress and anxiety and improved focus. These benefits happen to hugely support effective learning. Given the wealth of UCC’s green spaces, there’s ample opportunity for cultivating outdoor classrooms. We look forward to future collaborations!

For information on outdoor learning, please contact Green Campus Greenshoots Coordinator Irene Ní Shúilleabháin at inishuilleabhain@ucc.ie.