Cork School Garden Workshops

To support schools in starting, maintaining or further developing their garden.

All workshops take place in November 2025, from 4pm to 6.30pm at the following locations and registration is essential:

Monday 10th – Coachford NS P12 TW53 – click here to register

Tuesday 11th – Skibbereen BNS P81 KP63 – click here to register

Wednesday 12th – Scoil Maria Assumpta, Ballyphehane T12HY44 – click here to register

Thursday 13th - Shandrum NS, Newtownshandrum P56 X803 – click here to register

Monday 17th – Online from 4pm to 5.30pm – click here to register

The workshops are for principals, teachers, SNA’s, office staff, caretakers, parents or community members who have an interest in supporting the school garden. Supported by Muintir na Tire, Cork County Council and Cork City Council, the workshops will be delivered by Aoife Munn, who has a Masters in Horticulture and has worked with school gardens for almost 20 years. Aoife is currently the judge for school gardens in Meath and has lots of easy to implement ideas suitable for the school environment.

Topics covered will include:

Gardening techniques that improve success (this is a practical element so please dress accordingly)
The importance of Organic growing.
Sustainable Practices: composting, recycling, upcycling, water management and planting directly (get in to groups and share ideas so they get to know each other too)
Planning out a school Vegetable Garden
Polytunnels the pros and cons
What can be done in a small space?
Biodiversity in the garden
Sensory/reflective gardens – improving the yard

Refreshments and notes will be provided to all participants.

Please bring your own keep cup (reusable cup of any description), gardening gloves, sensible footwear (no open toed shoes) and warm clothing. Most of the course is indoors but we will spend some time outside at the start

About the Competition

Sponsored by Cork County and Cork City Councils the Annual Cork Schools Garden competition is open to all primary schools in Cork City and County who have a school garden or are in the process of developing one.
Cork School Gardens of The Year in Cork City and County Cork.
All schools who enter are automatically entered for these awards depending on their location

Who Can Enter

The Annual competition is open to all primary schools in Cork City and County who have a school garden or are in the process of developing one.
The pupils can be members of one class or representatives from a few classes. The adults may be teachers, school gardener or parents).
The entry must be approved by the school principal.
Closing Date for receipt of online entries is Good Friday each year and submit a short MP4 Video (not longer than 2 minutes) showing us what have done in their garden by 5pm on May 1st each year

Awards and Categories

Special Awards for the following

Best New Garden

Most Creative Garden

Most Improved Garden

Up-Cycling in the garden

Food Production in the garden

Biodiversity/Wildlife in the garden

Bee Friendly Gardens

Gardening 'as Gaeilge'

Art and colour in the garden

Best Small Garden

Innovation and Creativity in the garden

Fun and Play in the garden

Learning experience in the garden

History/ Heritage in the garden

Community Involvement in the garden

Terms and Conditions

Awards and Categories explained