Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme for 2014-2020 project LLI-291 ENGRAVE

Project ENGRAVE runs up – Cherry Garden on the bank of the river Svete will be renewed soon

                  Project LLI-291 “Enhancement of Green Infrastructure in the Landscape of Lowland Rivers” (ENGRAVE) supported by the Interreg V-A Latvia-Lithuania Programme for 2014-2020 started in spring of 2018. Project implementation ends on 30 April 2020. The value of investments in Zagare is 80843 EUR, the total amount of financing is 583 300,34 EUR, including ERDF co-financing – 495 805,26 EUR. Project aims to enhance river-based green infrastructure by integrating ecosystem and landscape concepts in to the planning and integrated management of the lowland rivers at local and regional scale. This will be achieved by strengthening cooperation between public authorities and stakeholders and supporting local and regional authorities with know-how by implementing measures and practices to enhance river based green infrastructure.

                      Directorate of Zagare Regional Park – one of the partners of this Project in Lithuania. The main activity of the project in Zagare is the renovation and cleaning of the Cherry Garden on the bank of the River Svete. Zagare has long been famous for its own special variety of cherry tree – Zagarvysne (literally translated as Zagare Cherry), which flourishes due to the dolomite present in the soil here. The Zagarvysne is an early season variety and the story goes that it was propagated from a seedling in the grounds of Zagare’s manor. There are no large cherry orchards in Zagare nowadays, but each farm grows Zagare cherries.

                      In the spring of 2011, Directorate of Zagare Regional Park planted a 1.7 ha Cherry Garden on the banks of the Svete river. This territory has been abandoned, unused for many years, the former kitchen gardens, quarries, landfill area. But it turns out that it's not easy to create an attractive object on its own. Due to the poorly suitable soil, trees are plump, dying, and paths clutched with grass. During the implementation of the ENGRAVE project the Cherry Garden will be restored, arranged and expanded. Required works: 3 hectares of land cultivate, fertilize, prepare for planting trees, plant 1 000 units of cherries and various ornamental trees and bushes (pines, mountain pines, oaks, willows, hawthorn, Cornus mas, Cornus alba), seed traditional flowering meadows of wild flowers (daisy, forget-me-not, poppy, cornflower, etc.), restore the existing garden paths. A contract will be signed soon with the company that will carry out the work and work will begin. After the implementation of this project, tourists and visitors will have access to Zagare cherries, admire and taste them.

                      Project co-financing: Interreg V-A Latvia – Lithuania Cross Border Cooperation Programme 2014-2020.

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The contents of this article are the sole responsibility of Directorate of Zagare Regional Park and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.