Around 1400 trees were planted in Vilnius this Saturday. A volunteer forest planting event took place near the Pūčkoriai outcrop in the capital. The event was attended by a large number of Vilnius residents and visitors.

‘We are extremely happy and grateful to everyone who dedicated their Saturday to the city and nature. Together we have planted the forest of the future, which will take care of not only us, but also of future generations,’ says Vilnius Mayor Valdas Benkunskas.

Helping a forest that can barely grow on its own

The work took place in the Pavilniai Regional Park. In a section of the meadow here, a natural, self-sown forest grew before the event, but the other section had been mowed for a long time, so the process could not run smoothly on its own.

‘We wanted to help the capital’s nature to flourish, to give an opportunity for the potential urban green space, accessible to all, to grow and to provide an opportunity for everyone to enjoy it to the fullest, to get to know the biodiversity, to be inspired to protect it,’ said Mayor V. Benkunskas.

The Mayor and the entire Vilnius City would like to thank EIKA group, RIMI Lietuva, Vilnius Coding School, Meso group, Bonava, Eaugalai, Novartis, the British School of Vilnius, VDU Lyceum Sokratus, MDS Terasos, DHL Logistics Lietuva, DPD Lietuva, Finų medis, Nekser, the Freedom Party, and the Homeland Union—Lithuanian Christian Democrats for donating and planting the tree seedlings.

They would also like to thank the parks of Vilnius, the Pavilniai and Verkiai Regional Parks Directorate, Grinda and Stebulė for their help with the planting and preparation work.

For those who didn’t have time to contribute

For those who wanted to contribute to the flourishing green capital but didn’t have time to do so, Vilnius City promises several other opportunities.

On 12 April, the DAROM clean-up campaign will take place across the city. On the same day, residents of Šeškinė and the surrounding districts are invited to a shrub-planting event in Saulės Avenue. As many as 4000 new shrubs will be added to the walking and cycling path and the surrounding green spaces, which are popular with residents. And on the 10th of May, in Fabijoniškės, Vėtrungių Street (the meeting point will be at the sports field at Vėtrungių and Gedvydžių Streets), 6000 new shrubs will grow.

Photos by Saulius Žiūra.