Setting up a farmstead exposition at the National Botanic Garden

Project passport
Project Duration
01.07.2017 - 30.06.2018
Project Beneficiary
Latvian Fund for Nature
Project Partners

National Botanic Garden of Latvia, Salaspils

Project Funding
Latvian Environmental Protection Fund
Project Location

National Botanic Garden of Latvia, Salaspils

Project Manager
Maija Ušča
Project Co-ordinator
Project Contact Information
Project Phone
+371 67830999
Project Email
Project Address
Vīlandes 3-7, Rīga LV 1010
Project Home Page

This project is strengthening the role of the National Botanic Garden (NBG) in educating society about the role of a traditional farmstead in preserving the quality of landscape, Latvian flora and biodiversity. It demonstrates practical examples that encourage Latvian society to undertake actions that preserve biodiversity in their own farmsteads, gardens and other green areas.

Project Activities: 

1. To create and install objects that support biodiversity – samples of fences, flower beds with pollen-rich plants, habitats that are suitable for different species of insects and small mammals, bird and bat nest boxes etc.
2. Create content for lessons for students of different age that will serve for exploring biodiversity within a farmstead and acquiring the basics of ecology. Also, produce all the materials that are necessary for the educational process.
3. Produce and install information stands about elements of farmsteads that are essential to biodiversity and the role of these elements in enhancing biodiversity.
4. Produce video clips that explain the functions of the objects in the exhibition and encourage setting up similar objects in every countryside house, garden or courtyard.
5. Organise an opening event of the exposition and open lectures to enhance deeper understanding of the issue.
6. Publish information about the exposition on the webpages and social networks of the project implementers as well as in local media and information portals.

1. Objects that enhance biodiversity and that are characteristic to traditional farmsteads will be installed at the NBG: samples of fences (3 types), flower beds of pollen-rich plants with different flowering periods (3 types), different habitats and feeding grounds that are suitable for various species of insects and small mammals (5 types), bird and bat nest boxes (5 types). These objects will function as a source of information and examples for the visitors of the botanical garden, enabling them to plan installation of similar objects in their own farmsteads and homes. Further maintenance of the exposition will be integrated in the everyday responsibilities of the staff of the botanic garden. 

2. Plans for the following educational activities will be produced and approved: 1 lesson plan for primary school students and 1 lesson plan for secondary school students. These lesson plans will concern farmstead biodiversity and basics of ecology. They will be included in the educational activities offered by the botanic garden, diversifying its educational programme.

3. The minimum of required inventory for the educational activities will be purchased, and all the materials necessary for the educational process will be prepared. This inventory will be handed over to educators of the botanic garden, ensuring its use the work on environmental education that is regularly undertaken by the NBG.

4. Six info stands will be prepared and installed (for example about buildings, gardens, grasslands, ecosystem services, plant varieties, birds and insects on farmstead) to aid individual visitors in exploring the farmstead exposition and richness of species in grasslands. These stands will also assist the guides of the botanic garden during guided tours for groups. After installation of the stands, their maintenance will be a part of the regular responsibilities of the staff of the botanic garden.

5. Five video clips will promote the objects of the exposition and encourage viewers to set up similar objects in their own farmsteads or gardens. The videos will contain practical, easy-to-implement advice on how to install these objects in one’s own home or farm. The videos will be available on the webpages of the Latvian Fund for Nature and the NBG as well as on social networks of both organisations.

6. An opening event of the exposition as well as two open lectures will be organised to explain in greater detail NBG’s possibilities of enhancing biodiversity. These events will target the staff of the botanic garden, its visitors, farmers, and owners of countryside houses and private houses in the suburbs of towns and cities.

7. The publicity of the exposition and educational programmes will be ensured (news items in local newspapers, internet portals and social networks of municipalities as well as the Latvian Fund for Nature and the National Botanical Garden).