University staff and students are invited to communal work in Maarjavälja green area

On 21 and 26 May, university members are welcome to take part in communal work in the Maarjavälja green area. Volunteers can plant local species and build fencing for urban sheep.

On the field between Viljandi road and the Physicum and Chemicum buildings, various methods will be tested to enrich urban nature, providing benefits for wildlife and a beautiful and healthy living environment for people.

On 21 May, starting at 12:00, volunteers can plant perennials to enrich the existing flora with different native species. Meadowsweet, lungwort, wild mint, various colours of yarrow, wormwood, yellow chamomile, etc., will be planted among the current vegetation. At the end of May, sheep will move to the green area and live there for the entire summer. On 26 May, everyone can help build fencing for them.

Tools for the communal work will be provided. Volunteers are advised to wear clothing suitable for soil work. Registration is open on the website of Tartu.

Maarjavälja green area is a former area of urban gardening that has now been simply mowed for a long time. In the Maarjavälja experimental area, the fallow plot will be transformed into a species-rich area in cooperation between the University of Tartu and the city. The existing vegetation has already been removed, and seeds of native meadow plants have been sown. Soil enriched with mycorrhiza from a long-grazed out-of-town pasture has been brought to the area. Read more on the university website.