The artist Marilyn Gaffney is working with National Schools in County Cavan on a project devised to encourage children to tease out links between science and the arts while recording the natural world around them.

The project which was initiated by the arts and heritage offices of Cavan County Council is taking place in five schools in County Cavan.   Schools were invited to make a submission on their response to the title of the project 'Natural and Beautiful Things Live Here' and their awareness of their own natural environments.   Five schools were selected to work with a writer and a visual artist on the basis of their submission.

The schools involved have worked in class and observed the natural environment in the school yard and around their homes observing and making notes of the wildlife they are observing.   The children are recording their findings in a 'Field Work' journal that they have been keeping during winter and spring.   Encouraged by their class teachers and the artists the children have written poetry and created art inspired by their observations.

Cavan County Museum hosted a day for the children to launch their exhibition 'Beautiful and Natural Things Live Here' on Monday 29 February. Well known wildlife commentator Eanna Ní Lamhná and Heather Bothwell, botanist will visit the Museum Garden with the children and provide feedback on their field note and art work.   

The exhibition will remain at Cavan County Museum for two weeks for the public to peruse. The schools involved in this project are: Gaelscoil Bhreifne, St Clare's Cavan, Billis, Mountnugent and Ballynarry National Schools.