Recycled phones are providing the funds for community and school groups to improve their environments. Iva Pocock reports

Eleven community and school groups are celebrating today's announcement of their grants from a new scheme that uses the proceeds from recycling mobile phones to support local environmental projects.

The nature fund, which is supported by the mobile-communications company Vodafone and Conservation Volunteers Ireland, has awarded €20,000 to the groups, which range from a student-run mini-company to a community garden.

Since the fund was set up last year - this is the second round of grants - 25,000 Irish handsets have been shipped to the UK, from where they are sent for resale in the developing world or dismantled for recycling.

The more disused phones that are collected, the more money is available for the nature fund, explains Melanie Hamilton, executive director of Conservation Volunteers Ireland - although, she says, Vodafone has committed a minimum of €40,000 a year to the initiative regardless of how many are recycled.

Hamilton says she has been amazed by the spread of the projects submitted both geographically and in terms of initiative. "It's absolutely astounding to see the amount of work being done on a voluntary basis."

One of the schools to benefit from the fund is St Paul's Special School in Beaumont, in north Dublin. Catering for pupils with autism from four to 18 years old, the school has spent 10 years developing a garden in its grounds.

Angela Leonard, its deputy principal, set up the first outdoor programme, then Ann Mulhern, a horticulture teacher, joined the staff. The garden has gathered momentum ever since.

"It's something we've developed, because the garden is an area where the children thrive," says Leonard, who is delighted that the fund is to help create a wildlife corner.

An existing pond will be enhanced with fruit trees, a bird bath, bird boxes and a composting area.

"Every time we get funding we can develop the garden further. It gives something back to the children and helps them develop to their full potential," says Leonard.

Another winner is St Peter Apostle Senior National School in Clondalkin, in west Dublin, where pupils involved in An Taisce's green-schools programme want to extend their recycling facilities.

Craig Bailey, a 12-year-old pupil - and a vocal member of the school's green committee - says he is excited about the award for installing three "cans of worms", which should help to make his school "a better place for everybody". The worms will

produce valuable fertiliser for the school's vegetable and flower

garden.

Another school where An Taisce's programme has acted as a springboard for further environmental initiative is Jesus & Mary Secondary School in Enniscrone, in Co Sligo. Bryan McCann, a member of its green committee, and fellow transition-year students set up a mini-company last year called Help Us With Our Shredding And We'll Give You Animal Bedding.

The innovative bunch, who each have clearly defined roles, organised paper collections in classrooms such as the art room, where a lot is used. Once a week it is then shredded and packed into clear plastic bags for sale.

"We sell to farmers for bedding for horses and fowl," says Velieda Kilcullen, the 15-year-old company secretary. "We get €1 per bag and make 50c on each, but the profits are all going back into the company."

She is delighted with the nature- fund award, as it will help increase advertising and allow them to buy more plastic bags. Gerardine Mulcaire, a teacher at the school, is "awfully excited" about the award. "It's great for the youngsters," she says.

Her enthusiasm reflects the keenness that is evident in all of the applications the scheme has received, according to Melanie Hamilton. "It's giving us hope for the future. It's not all doom and gloom."

Conservation Volunteers Ireland is at 01-4952878; its website is www.cvi.ie