University College Cork's Trees Explorers' project has received €47,000 in funding as part of National Tree Week 2021.
The grant aid for a number of innovative projects, including a tree tour of the college's 176-year-old arboretum, was announced today by Science Foundation Ireland.
The funding will also support a number of public talks, and an outreach education programme for three local DEIS primary schools - North Presentation Primary School, Gaelscoil Pheig Sayers and Gaelscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa.
The funding, through the Science Foundation Ireland Discover Programme, supports projects aimed at improving public understanding of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
Welcoming the news, UCC's Dr Eoin Lettice said it will help make the tree collection available to as many people as possible.
"The funding will also allow us to develop specific tools to engage school children with the collection and to help foster in them an appreciation for the natural world as well as the beauty and scientific relevance of plants and trees."
UCC's arboretum dates from the college's foundation in 1845, and has 120 different species in its collection of some 2,500 trees.
The species range from native Irish and British trees to American, Asian, Australian and European specimens, including a pair of 150-year-old Giant Redwoods; an Irish champion Wing Nut tree and a collection of mature Scots, Monteray and Bhutan pines.
