The project was implemented by four partners in Latgale and North-East Lithuania – Preiļi County Council in Latvia, Zarasai District Municipality, Foundation of Peatland Restoration and Conservation and Innovator’s Valley in Lithuania. The overall objective of the project was to increase the capacity of organisations involved in the restoration and maintenance of historical parks.
One of the objectives of the project was to support the organisations through common cooperation, exchange of experience and common solutions towards the improvement of biodiversity status in historical parks, so several activities with the involvement of professional and experienced field experts took place. Two work camps were organised – on 29-30 April 2022 in Preiļi Manor Park and on 14 April 2022 in Kamariškės Manor Park.
On 8-9 September 2022 the field day event was held in Antalieptė, Kamariškes and Preiļi. It attracted park owners and managers, municipal employees, nature and heritage specialists, landscape planners, arborists, and various NGO specialists from Latvia and Lithuania. Three meetings with the owners of the parks took place in the Latvian historical parks of Bebrene, Lūznava and Preiļi. A practical Study trip for teachers and educators, and two summer camps for schoolchildren “World of nature is all around us” in Antalieptė, Lithuania and Preiļi were organised. To raise the awareness of environmental protection for a wider public Zero Waste festivals in Antalieptė and Preiļi were organised.
On 24-25 January 2023 the Final conference took place in Preiļi and Antalieptė. The event was mainly organized to present the project’s achievements.
“Guidelines for advanced management of historical parks” for the owners and managers of historical parks were published (available online as well) and five educational programs for the school children and materials for outdoor lessons were prepared.
Equipment for the maintenance of the parks and educational programs was purchased: 12 video cameras, 22 iPads, 2 monoculars, 22 binoculars, 10 bat detectors, 3 microscopes, 2 trimers, 2 chainsaws, 1 electricity generator, 1 grass cuter with cutting deck, 5 axes, 5 secators, 5 rakes, 2 carts, 5 shovels, 1 trailer, 2 ladder, 4 helmets, 50 gloves.
The reconstruction works in water bodies of Antalieptė Monastery Park, Kamariškės Manor Park and Preiļi Manor Park for improvement of water quality took place. The reconstruction works of Preiļi Manor Park ponds and canals included the building of water drainage on the canal, installation of five culverts; cleaning works of the canal, and deepening the riverbed of Preiļupīte. Water treatment plants were installed and ponds were reconstructed in Antalieptė and Kamariškės. Paths for pedestrians were created in Antalieptė, and the condition of veteran trees was improved in 4 project partners’ parks. Nature experts assisted during the reconstruction process and consulted the reconstruction workers on how to do the work without harm to nature and biodiversity.
To establish a joint cross-border approach for the protection of the environment and for improving the biodiversity in historical parks biodiversity inventories for parks (report on biodiversity inventory in Lithuanian parks: Kamariškiai, Antalieptė, Antazavė, Stelmužė and Zarasai and report on biodiversity inventory in Latvian parks: Preili, Lūznava, Bebrene), management proposals for park greeneries and trees, recommendations for improvement of the conditions for biodiversity (Bebrene, Antalieptė, Zarasai, Lūznava, Antazavė, Preiļi, Stelmužė, Kamariškės), reports on the economic assessment of ecosystem services in historic parks were prepared as well.
Video about the project: