Thank you for taking the time to express your disappointment at Coillte's decision to discontinue the exceptionally popular after school's outdoor programme run by the Compass Club. I was the man you heard on Joe Duffy yesterday.
I commenced as an outdoor education in Killarney National Park in September 2016 after intensive training in both education and first aid provided by Coillte personnel. Today I will have to say goodbye to my 10 children with whom I have had the great pleasure of working with for the past number of months.
Coillte must now be allowed to drop this hugely important outdoor education programme. I urge you to do all in your power to ensure it is re-instated without delay.
As the person who organised and hosted the first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Certification Conference in Ireland in 1995 that paved the road for Coillte's subsequent certification, I insist that they owe the parents and children of Ireland (the owners of Coillte's forests/lands) the opportunity to enjoy the educational and social benefits their forests provide.
I urge Fergal Leamy as a parent and CEO of Coillte to reverse his decision and keep The Compass Club going for the mental and physical wellbeing of Ireland's future generations.
Tom Roche
Posted on 14 Dec 2016 10:44 am
Dear Senator Leyden,
Thank you for taking the time to express your disappointment at Coillte's decision to discontinue the exceptionally popular after school's outdoor programme run by the Compass Club. I was the man you heard on Joe Duffy yesterday.
I commenced as an outdoor education in Killarney National Park in September 2016 after intensive training in both education and first aid provided by Coillte personnel. Today I will have to say goodbye to my 10 children with whom I have had the great pleasure of working with for the past number of months.
Coillte must now be allowed to drop this hugely important outdoor education programme. I urge you to do all in your power to ensure it is re-instated without delay.
As the person who organised and hosted the first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Forest Certification Conference in Ireland in 1995 that paved the road for Coillte's subsequent certification, I insist that they owe the parents and children of Ireland (the owners of Coillte's forests/lands) the opportunity to enjoy the educational and social benefits their forests provide.
I urge Fergal Leamy as a parent and CEO of Coillte to reverse his decision and keep The Compass Club going for the mental and physical wellbeing of Ireland's future generations.
Yours sincerely,
Tom Roche
Founder of www.justforests.org