Flower meadow pilot areas
An important part of the “BiodiverseTori Municipality” project is the establishment of flower meadows in the centres of Sauga, Are, Tori and Jõesuu together with the community, and the creation of a species-rich recreation area on the Sindi riverside. Flower meadows will be created in different areas of the municipality to raise awareness of the importance of biodiversity among as many people as possible. The aim of the flower meadows is not just to provide a scenic attraction, but also to show local people the need for, and the beauty and potential of, naturally species-rich communities. The creation of flower meadows will reduce the areas in our municipality that have become species-poor as a result of intensive mowing, provide an opportunity for species richness (for example, allowing plants that cannot tolerate low mowing to thrive) and allow plants to flower and seeds to mature.
The abundance of flowering plants contributes to the abundance of pollinators that are important in the natural food chain. It also allows nature to regenerate itself. For each flower meadow we plant, we will leave one unmowed patch of lawn so that we can compare their development and evolution.
In the selection of flower meadow locations, it was important to consider pollinator safety, so a safe buffer zone for insects must be left between the meadow and the driveway. As the soil of the chosen site is sown with a seed mixture suited to the site, each flower meadow must have a different appearance and long-term floral development. Plants sown there will flower at different times, providing a steady food supply for pollinators. In order to avoid genetic contamination, the flower meadows are planted with seeds harvested from the wild in Estonia.
In total, the project will create around 1000 m² of flower meadows. All the areas have been planned so that they can be viewed from all sides.
Billboards with information about the project and the flower meadows will be installed at each site.
Tori
Tori’s 300 m² flower meadow is planned for the grass field infront of the letters of Soomaa. Next to the ever-increasing asphalted areas in the centre of Tori, the species-rich flower meadow provides an opportunity to bring a little balance and naturalness.
Are
Approximately a 250 m² flower meadow will be created on the Are recreation centre site. The creation of a flower meadow will provide an opportunity to create a reference moment for the community and to introduce people to a more nature-friendly alternative to mowing. The establishment of a meadow close to an actively used leisure centre will allow the community to participate in the creation and development of the meadow. It will also be a peaceful place, favourable to insects, butterflies, birds, etc.
Sauga
Sauga’s approximately 200 m² flower meadow is located along Jänesselja Street, in the green area near the Sauga Youth Centre and Sauga Coop. The location was chosen to provide a balance to the nearby asphalted car parks, which in the summer become dangerous heat islands.
Jõesuu
A 300 m² species-rich flower meadow will be planted in the green area opposite the Jõesuu bus stop. There are many heavily mowed lawns in Jõesuu, and the creation of the pilot area will provide the community with an alternative to the colourful floral displays that lawns certainly do not offer. Raising awareness of the impacts of mowing and the potential for more vibrant public landscaping will provide an opportunity to adjust plans for mowed areas.
Sindi
A green area with species-rich greenery and gravel grass will be established in the city of Sind. When creating a green area, different plant fronts are used, and the main soil is gravel grass, which is new in Estonia. The creation of the area will mitigate the formation of heat islands in Sindh. It also creates an opportunity for the community to enjoy nature, be in the greenery with family and friends, and organize various events in a place with a beautiful river view.
The project was born in cooperation with:
The project “Creation of pilot areas for nature-based solutions to increase biodiversity in the municipality of Tori” (in short “Biodiverse Municipality of Tori”) is supported by the Environmental Investment Centre through the Climate Change Adaptation Measure. The support is funded by the European Economic Area.