Northern Ireland’s leading full fibre broadband provider, Fibrus, has announced a £10,000 investment in a new partnership with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) that will help primary school pupils develop practical environmental skills while growing hundreds of native trees for their schools and local communities.
The initiative, Fibrus Green Connections, is part of Fibrus’ wider Environmental Action Plan and reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to sustainability.
This new partnership alongside the rollout of its full fibre broadband network across rural Northern Ireland.
As part of Fibrus’ wider commitment to Project Gigabit NI, the UK government programme enabling hard-to-reach and rural communities to access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband, the TCV programme supports the broader social values built into all Project Gigabit contracts, including job creation and workforce training, local apprenticeships and education, and environmental funding.
Delivered in partnership with TCV, the programme will work with five primary schools from across the region over an 18 to 24-month period, delivering 25 interactive workshops designed to inspire the next generation of environmental champions.
Through a series of hands-on workshops, students will learn about native species, biodiversity and the importance of protecting local ecosystems as they nurture the seeds into young saplings.
Each ‘Forest in a Box’ is expected to produce around 50 saplings, with the programme delivering approximately 300 new native trees across participating schools and local communities. The planting will help enhance biodiversity while leaving a lasting environmental legacy for future generations.
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to creating stronger, more connected communities. While Fibrus connects rural communities through full fibre broadband, TCV connects people with nature through practical conservation and environmental education, helping to create greener spaces for future generations.
Hyperfast Networks, delivered by Fibrus, is delivering Project Gigabit in Northern Ireland. Awarded to Fibrus, the £34.6 million Project is funded by the UK government through The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and delivered by Department for the Economy (DfE) will bring full fibre access toover 9,000 of the most rural and hard to reach homes and businesses, helping to future proof communities where connectivity has historically lagged behind urban areas, while creating wider social value and supporting the communities it connects.
Jenny Lennon, Managing Director of Hyperfast Networks, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with The Conservation Volunteers to launch Fibrus Green Connections. This project will give pupils the opportunity to engage with nature and create a lasting environmental legacy for their communities. We are excited to work with the schools involved and see the project grow over the coming months.”
The Conservation Volunteers welcomed the new partnership with Horticulture Lead at TCV, Edele Feenan, commenting: “We are looking forward to working with Fibrus on this exciting new project and the opportunity to connect with schools in more rural communities. Our practical workshops are a great way to engage children in nature-based activities and instil a sense of ownership over the positive impact they can have on their own environment. It will be great to have children involved in growing the trees that will be part of their local green spaces for years to come.”
