Update on Ukraine Botanic Garden Appeal. News published 15 February 2023

Together with the generosity of many individuals, botanic gardens and partners, including a matched donation from the Atlanta Botanical Garden and support from over 50 gardens worldwide, we raised almost $100,000 for the 2022 Ukraine Botanic Garden Appeal – Thank you! 

This heartfelt letter of love to the M.M. Hryshko Botanic Garden summarises the impact of your donations: 

“Thank you on behalf of each of our volunteer community for the opportunity to find comfort for the soul and relieve stress, working with plants and gaining strength in nature.”

During the first disbursal of funds in July 2022, each of the 10 gardens received $2,500 to help mainly with retention of staff and engagement with the general public. During this time 140 staff were supported and gardens received 22,400 visitors. As the winter approached and powercuts became more frequent the task of organising the disbursal of the rest of the funds became more difficult. Another $76,000 was disbursed in January 2023. For this second part of the Appeal the funds will be mainly used to maintenance of the collections, assisting with heating of glasshouses, and retention of staff. Some environmental education and engagement with the general public will be supported, however the weather and intensity of the war makes this more difficult.

Round tables

Since August of 2022 Partnerships for Nature (PN) who have been instrumental in helping BGCI contact Ukraine botanic gardens and organise the Appeal; has also been conducting monthly online Round Tables with directors and educators of all 10 Ukrainian botanical gardens. For these sessions PN has invited specialists from the US to provide presentations on areas of particular interest in environmental education. The Round Tables have also proved to be a productive forum for Ukrainian educators to share their own knowledge and experiences, and to build networks of communication. This is critically important: Ukrainian botanical gardens have lacked this network, and they continue to play a key role in wartime Ukraine as places of respite, recreation, and learning for millions of internal refugees and local citizens across Ukraine.

These online Round Tables have been deeply appreciated by participants.

The role of botanic gardens for refugees

The Ukraine Botanic gardens supported by your donations have played a crucial role in providing a space for respite and rest for internally displaced people, especially for internal traumatised refugees (mostly women and children) who have relied on the botanic gardens and their staff. The botanic garden staff and volunteers have remained dedicated to the collections, education programmes, innovative activities, and the people who need the botanic gardens while there is a war is an incredible effort.

For BGCI and PN staff involved in the Ukraine Botanic Garden Appeal, the staff members and volunteers in these gardens are heroes, and it’s an honour to play a role in supporting them.

View this short video from Kryvyi Rih Botanic Garden staff member (English subtitles available)

View this short video from Kryvyi Rih Botanic Garden refugee (English subtitles available)

For more stories follow the Appeals page: