Being satisfied with joint work on the Jelgava Castle Island

On Saturday, October 14 on the Jelgava Castle Island 42 volunteers participated in joint work of the restoration of floodplain meadow, and this was organized under the LIFE-Nature project “Restoration of Floodplains” by the Latvian Fund for Nature. The people participating in the joint work were greeted with welcoming ceremonial speech by Mr. Andris Rāviņš, the Chairman of Jelgava City Council...

Being satisfied with joint work on the Jelgava Castle Island

On Saturday, October 14 on the Jelgava Castle Island 42 volunteers participated in joint work of the restoration of floodplain meadow, and this was organized under the LIFE-Nature project “Restoration of Floodplains” by the Latvian Fund for Nature. The people participating in the joint work were greeted with welcoming ceremonial speech by Mr. Andris Rāviņš, the Chairman of Jelgava City Council, and as an example he symbolically cut down one bush first.

Jelgava Castle Island being situated in the centre of Jelgava City is rich with valuable nature resources, and it is a unique place on the European scale. It is part of the restricted nature reserve “Lielupe Floodplains”, as well as the territory included in Natura 2000 network. In order to preserve suitable nesting places for rare birds in meadows, as well as to preserve the scenery, it is necessary to cut down the bushes growing in the territory of meadows. This joint work was meant for anyone willing to spend their holidays actively and also to render their work as an investment in favour of the preservation of nature diversity in Latvia.

The weather was especially favourable: it did not rain, there were no strong winds, and constantly some sunbeams appeared for a moment through the dense layer of clouds. Being directly in the centre of Jelgava city on the Island was not disturbing for listening and watching at the skein of migrating geese which otherwise would not be noticed in city fuss.

The people participating in the joint work energetically restored a part of floodplain meadow near River Driksa cleaning the territory from bushes along former ditches and placing already cut bushes into large piles. Subsequently, it is planned to process the cut bushes into woodchip. In its turn, huge amounts of waste left near all the territory of the Island, mostly in fishermen favourite places were gathered into large sacks. The joint work proceeded till 4 p.m. in late afternoon and in the end there was a genuine pleasure felt for how much it is possible to accomplish if working together in a large team in harmony.

As the regional coordinator Mr. Jānis Reihmanis (Latvian Fund for Nature) informed, “restoration of the meadow was performed qualitatively and this will serve as an example for professionals who will work there in future”. The project leader Ms. Inga Račinska expressed gratification for the work accomplished and marked that enthusiasm, dedication and willingness of the participants in this joint work to render their work to accomplish ideal and high aims. The first year students from the Forest Faculty of the Latvia University of Agriculture who participated in the joint work admitted that they were not bored, not even for a minute, and the day was spent worthily – they said it was a great alternative for staying peacefully in the

student hostel. Jan van der Vein, a participant from the Netherlands ARK Fund for Nature was inspired by this unique nature site in the urban environment of Jelgava and confirmed that it would be possible to find an appropriate place for wild horses and cows, which would ensure maintaining of restored floodplain meadows and, at the same time, would be an attractive tourism object in Jelgava City.

Next year it is intended to go on excursion to observe birds in the restored floodplain meadow. So it will be the best way of all how to consider who needed this cleaning from bushes the most. Already in the end of October, it is planned to organize a public discussion for the nature conservation plan being developed for the territory of Natura 2000 – for the restricted nature reserve “Lielupe Floodplains”. More information will follow.

More pictures from joint work on Castle Island are here