NEWS

December 2023

The selection of the gardening contractor is complete and we can start the actual planting. It might seem that the winter months are not a good choice for such activities, after all it is known that autumn and spring are the right seasons. However, it is a long time since Lad's pictures showed the landscape covered in snow during these months, and every puddle and pond was frozen over for many months. The current mild weather not only allows for preparatory work such as digging planting holes and preparing planting soil, but in the periods when it is not freezing, the actual planting. We have reports that the planting material is secured and there is nothing to prevent us from "getting down to business". We wish the company MARTIN HNILICA s.r.o, which won the tender for this contract, the best of luck and we look forward to sharing the first photos of the planted trees with you. Pictured from the left is Ing. Filipovič Željko, who has been taking care of the greenery for the town of Mělník for 20 years, and next to him Martin Hnilica, owner of the contractor company.

January 2024

This winter month is ideal for preparing planting sites. This is the dormant season, so we use it to prune existing trees so that the space is ready for new planting in the spring. We start in Chloumecka Street, connecting Mělník with the residential area of Mělník-Chloumek.
Arborist works, preparing the site for planting 24 dogwood trees.

As part of the preparations, the size of the existing woody vegetation, such as rosehips, is reduced to the necessary extent. This creates space for new trees. This procedure is chosen with a view to preserving the biodiversity of the street. The works include immediate clearance and removal of the removed material.

One of the objectives of this large-scale project is to add more than 100 trees to the tree planting along the linear structures of Kokořínská, Na Průhoně and Chloumecká streets. The motivation is to strengthen the insulating and protective function in this open and unprotected area of large field units.

We will keep you informed about further progress on the planting sites.

February 2024

The project does not underestimate the information campaign and communication with the locals. Where it is necessary, such as modifications of public spaces with a direct connection to existing buildings, as in the streets Pod Vrchem and Smetanova, we address citizens through a leaflet campaign directly to their mailboxes. The residents of these streets were also informed about the intention to renew the greenery in the January issue of the Mělník Town Hall. The aim of this campaign is to communicate the plans for the public space to the local residents and to get their feedback, which is a key element for creating a harmonious common environment.

Smetanova Street is currently dominated by the unsatisfactory state of the greenery. There is a lack of adequate insulating and protective greenery between the road and the development, which affects the comfort of this public space. The amount of existing greenery is insufficient. The current condition of the greenery and its species composition is patchy and unsatisfactory. Many of the trees have also been 'affected' by inappropriate care or by the way in which the crown has been pruned into inappropriate shapes. The current greenery as it is neither aesthetically pleasing nor does it fulfil the ecological function that well chosen and maintained greenery in urbanised areas fulfils.

In response to this deficiency, new trees will be planted. The original plan included 50 white birch trees, but thanks to feedback from the residents of this street, a more appropriate solution that respects the needs and wishes of the residents is currently being discussed. Therefore, we have scheduled a face-to-face meeting for February 15, 2024. We will again reach out to the residents of this street in the proven form of leaflets directly to their mailboxes. We will mainly discuss the choice of a suitable new tree species at the meeting.

In Pod Vrchem Street, the sharp slope separating the houses and the driveway to the garages will be thoroughly transformed. There is now a patchy mix of trees planted by the first residents of the apartment blocks. The conifers growing here are, unfortunately, unstable and in danger of falling. Their roots are also destroying the surrounding grassy area used by the residents for leisure. Instead of these unsuitable trees we plan to plant 18 lilac trees. This proposed transformation not only cultivates the space but also provides a stable support for the slope. The lilacs will provide much needed shade in the summer months and will not obstruct the passage of light in the winter, unlike the current vegetation.

Here too we are planning a personal meeting with local residents on 15 February 2024.

We believe that through personal meetings and feedback we will transform these public spaces together to serve current and future generations.

March 2024

Kokořínská Street reports planted. Most of the planting in Na Průhoně Street has also been completed and educational pruning has taken place. We still have to deal with an unplanned problem in the southern part of this road in the form of bedrock at several planting holes. Chloumecka Street is already decorated with newly blossoming dogwood trees. And the first almond blossoms are appearing in the area of K Mostu Street. The fruit tree plantation Blata - Velký Borek has earned your praise and we thank you for it. In Smetana Street, we found a solution with the majority of residents in replacing the originally planned birch trees with white flowering bird cherry trees. Children from local primary schools came to help us in Brabčov Park on 12 March and the public also came in the afternoon. The restored fruit orchard Na Ráji was transformed beyond recognition in the last days of March. You can see the photo documentation of the individual locations in the locations tab. We still have the whole month of April to complete all the planting.

April 2024

We are taking advantage of the funds saved through a lower tendered price for a landscaping contractor and expanding the project documentation to include additional green features and areas. The total number of plantings increases by an impressive 248 trees!

We are planting the following tree species in Na Průhoně Street according to the newly created project documentation. Na Průhoně Street, is in a different part of the original project subsidy. It is therefore a follow-up planting.

We are also continuing to reinforce other forest buffer strips in the Na Ráji area and behind Strážnická Street by planting a total of 208 trees. We are planting leader trees, casing trees, service trees, and understory trees.

The last month of our project is in full swing. We've got our work cut out for us. The whole month of April is marked by the completion of the first and second phase of planting.

The spring months have been extremely dry this year, so we are also paying close attention to frequent irrigation.

A Norway Grants documentary about our project is gradually being produced, which will be filmed well into the summer so that the new greenery can be shown to the "camera eye" in full bloom.

We are happy that we have successfully completed the planting of each of the planned tree species, whether in the form of a tree, multi-stem or shrub, and will continue to maintain them on a regular basis. We are transforming the landscape around us into a greener one, and this transformation will be gratefully returned to us in many benefits in the decades to come.