2022 Ukraine Botanic Garden Appeal

Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden

The Dnipro Botanical Garden was founded in 1930. It is located in the center of the large city of Dnipro. The total area of the garden is 27 hectares, and it is divided into two zones: an area open for free access to the public (10 hectares) and a scientific limited access area (17 hectares). Dendrological collections include more than 1,000 species of plants collected from the temperate zone of all continents.

Public Education Programme

As part of educational and awareness activities, the garden staff conduct sightseeing and thematic tours, workshops. There are also a number of small educational programs related to obtaining knowledge about plant diversity, the reasonable use of plant resources, and developing practical skills in gardening and floristry. In addition, the collections of the botanical garden serve as a base for conducting practical classes and undergraduate practice for students of the biological faculties of DNU (educational program “Biosystems and Landscape Design”) and the Agrarian and Economic University (educational program “Landscape gardening”). Botanical garden plants are also valuable material for scientific research of DNU Research Laboratory of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology.

Collections at Dnipro Botanical Garden

The Arboretum collections includes more than 1,00 species of plants. In terms of species diversity, the genera Deutzia, Philadelphus, Lonicera, and Syringa are most fully represented. The collections include a large number of relict, exotic, as well as threatened plants: Abies holophylla, Fitzroya cupressoides, Forsythia ovata, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Juniperus pingii, Sorbus latifolia, Thuja standishii, Sinowilsonia henryi,  Cephalotaxus harringtonii, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Parrotia persica, Staphylea pinnata, Liriodendron tulipifera etc.  

Impacts of the war

Due to the critically small number of employees (currently 22) and a significant reduction in funding, the workload per person has increased. There is a serious threat to the plant collections in the exposition and fund greenhouses because of possible interruptions in central heating in the winter. Despite the above circumstances, significant efforts are made to maintain the collections. Volunteers are actively involved in this task. The number of educational programs has decreased, but excursions and some thematic classes continue to be held.

How will the funds from the Ukraine Appeal will be used?

The funds received from BGCI will be used to support employees who carry out public educational programs for children and adults (“Plant Diversity of the World”, “Green Pharmacy”, “World of Tropics and Subtropics”, “Exotic Fruit Plants”, “Botanical Knowledge and Cultural Traditions”, etc.) . It is also planned to support employees involved in maintaining collections and actively working with volunteers. Part of the funds will be used to purchase some materials and equipment necessary for the implementation of excursion and educational activities.

Oct 2022: Update from Oles Honchar Dnipro BG

The botanic garden organised a meeting of friends, to which residents and guests of the city were invited. More than a thousand people visited the botanic garden that day. During the garden tours, which started every half an hour, everyone could get acquainted with the collections of the garden, learn interesting facts about plants. In addition to the existing warm atmosphere, the staff treated children and adults to free tea with sweets.

Sep 2022: Update from Oles Honchar Dnipro BG

In late August and early September, the botanical garden held a small series of classes for high school students on the topic “Indoor plants”. The classes included theoretical and practical parts. During the theoretical lessons, the participants got acquainted with the variety of tropical and subtropical plants and were given the opportunity to learn some techniques for growing and propagating indoor plants.

The Botanical Garden is a special place. It is quiet and calm here, and nature inspires creativity. Thanks to the help of the Solnechnaya art studio, art therapy classes for children and adults were held. We hope that the participants received a supply of energy and good mood, which will stay with them for a long time.

Aug 2022: Update from Oles Honchar Dnipro BG

In August, as part of the Family Tour project, a little lesson was held in the Exposition greenhouse for parents and their children. Eyes wide open and a thousand questions what? how? why?… Children are interested in everything. While adults are sedately listening to the guide, children are overwhelmed with emotions. There are so many unusual plants here that you want to smell and touch every flower, every leaf to feel like a real inhabitant of the jungle. It’s so much fun! It is a pity that time passed very quickly. In the end, a surprise awaits the children – a small quiz about tropical plants.

In August, the DNU Botanical Garden held several free tours for internally displaced persons. In total, more than 80 people have been on these excursions. A leisurely walk through the arboretum, an interesting guide’s story and a calm atmosphere helped these people relieve psychological stress and distract themselves from the crisis. After the tour, these people also had the opportunity to visit the fund greenhouses of the garden and get acquainted with the collections of succulents and other indoor plants.