The idea to add more biodiversity to Tartu city centre parks was born almost six years ago. Tartu had decided to apply for the European Capital of Culture title and announced an idea competition. As landscape architects we understood that we could not miss the opportunity to promote also parks and landscape culture.
Since the spring of 2020, Tartu has been experimenting with different ways to bring biodiversity back to the city. Parts of the Central Park have been mowed less, Uueturu Park has a city lawn and a part of Vabaduse Puiestik is designed as an urban grove. This systematic project of enriching green areas was unprecedented in Estonia.
Along the way we also dealt with PR, education, research, workshops, exhibitions and everything else that is needed to change the mindset regarding landscape architecture and outdoor spaces. The greatest value of the project is testing the ways of ecological restoration of urban green areas, but it is equally important to keep explaining (in person, workshops, tours, the media, planting and co-creation activities) why cities need greenery and biodiversity.
The additional task of the project is to introduce the new generation to urban nature. If today’s children were to grow up in an environment lacking biodiversity, it would become their norm and they would not ask for anything better. Research shows that urban biodiversity makes the residents calmer and both mentally and physically healthier. In a healthy city you do not have to escape to nature at the weekend, it is important that people can be in nature also in the heart of the city.
Text by: Merle Karro-Kalberg
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