Greener Spaces 2025

Roscommon County Council’s Environment Department has launched the Greener Spaces Competition for 2025, and it is now open for applications. It’s time for Community Groups and Schools to highlight their efforts in enhancing and maintaining their outdoor spaces.

The Environment Department is trying to find the “Greenest” spaces, with prizes on offer for overall winners and special awards.

What is a Greener Space?

A Greener Space is essential for helping people connect with nature and creating a healthier, more sustainable environment within a community.  It is managed for litter control, biodiversity, waterways protection and sustainably by community groups. Examples include school grounds, community gardens, orchards, rain gardens, green urban spaces, burial grounds, residential estates or other green community spaces.

It is open to the following categories:

Greener Communities

This competition aims to highlight the voluntary efforts of community groups’ in enhancing an outdoor space. Applications are welcome from all types of community groups, including resident associations, cemetery committees, tidy towns, and special interest groups.

Greener Schools

This competition offers Primary School students and teachers the opportunity to showcase their efforts in enhancing an outdoor space or school grounds whilst also protecting the environment and using resources sustainably.  Applications are welcome from all Primary Schools who have an outdoor space or school grounds, regardless of size.

The awards are an opportunity to recognise the work being done across the county to protect our environment, use resources with more care and develop sustainable communities.

This year judges will be awarding marks for Overall Appearance and Upkeep, Litter Management, Environmental Initiatives and Projects, Biodiversity and Natural Habitat Enhancement, Pollinator-Friendly Actions and Community Involvement.

Action for Pollinators

Supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage Local Biodiversity Action Fund

For green spaces to be good for pollinators, they need to provide food in the form of flowers, shelter for nesting and safety from chemicals.

How can your Community take actions for pollinators?

https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/AIPP-A5-Community-guidelines-2023-WEB.pdf

How can your School take actions for pollinators?

https://pollinators.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/School-Pollinator-How-to-Guide-2022-WEB.pdf

Visit https://pollinators.ie/resources/ for lots of information on how you can help pollinators

Further information and online application form can be found at https://myonlineservices.roscommoncoco.ie/service/greener_spaces_competition