Tree-mendous donation of hazel sapling delights Moville schoolchildren!
With time spent in nature proven to help lessen stress and anxiety, David says he’s concerned that children are spending much less time outside
Well-known Inishowen children’s storyteller David Simpson donated a hazel sapling to the children of St Columb’s National School in Moville, to help celebrate National Tree Week.
“Hazel is known as the tree of knowledge in Celtic folklore, featuring a salmon that ate nine hazel nuts and received wisdom,” explained David.
The local nature enthusiast has read his tree-inspired stories in national schools over many years, bringing in saplings, leaves, bark, cones, and nuts so that children may learn more by touching trees.
With time spent in nature proven to help lessen stress and anxiety, David says he’s concerned that children are spending much less time outside and in nature, especially when compared with their grandparents’ generation.
“I’m encouraging children to pick a tree, or a shrub, in their gardens or a local park, and say hello to it. Making friends with a tree, having your own tree, will help children connect more to nature,” David added, praising the staff and pupils of St Columb's as a “delight to be with.”
To make his children’s stories and knowledge more widely available, David has also launched a new podcast: sayhellotoatree.podbean.com.
Meanwhile, school principal Helena Walker thanked him for his visit and for his tree donation.
“The children have enjoyed learning about nature through listening to David's stories. The introduction of pictures and examples of local trees or saplings piqued the children's interest and has encouraged them to investigate their local surroundings,” she said.
“And hopefully it will enable them to recognise and name trees in the locality,” Ms Walker added.