As part of National Volunteering Week we would like to highlight the impact volunteers have on organisations. Each day we will feature a story highlighting their contribution. Our first story is from Stepping Stone Forests.
Stepping Stone Forests are small, densely planted forests using native species of trees and shrubs. Due to the dense nature of the planting the trees and shrubs grow very rapidly. In schools we plant Stepping Stone Forests in a horseshoe shape to create outdoor classrooms. The little forests provide an opportunity for children to spend time outside learning about nature. Children grow and mature along with the forest.
We are a part time group that relies entirely upon volunteerism. Without volunteers there would be no Stepping Stone Forests. We recruit volunteers from businesses, community groups, and individuals.
When we were getting started we had two major challenges. We needed financial sponsorship and we needed people to do the work on the ground. Happily financial support was forthcoming and while we had a small core of volunteers we knew that we would need more help.
We registered with the South Dublin County Volunteer Centre and posted an opportunity for volunteers to help with our soil preparation and tree planting events. Through that one advertisement we have had numerous responses from individuals and businesses. From those responses we have had many volunteers come out to help us at various events.
The response to that single post with the Volunteer Centre has been so encouraging that we have the confidence to set a target to plant 15 school forests this year compared to seven planted last time around.
