The volunteers dream of restoring the garden by 2019, so they will organize cleanups twice a month

The Agricultural University of Plovdiv has a beautiful area—the only Botanical Garden in the city—which unfortunately is not in very good condition. The lack of a fence and the presence of a lot of trash buried in the soil affect both its appearance and the vegetation that otherwise thrives there.

Two years ago, Ukrainian Nata Elis moved to Plovdiv with her Bulgarian husband, became acquainted with the garden, and decided to become a volunteer, determined to make a change. To this end, a foundation was created to support and organize cleaning initiatives. Last year, about 40 volunteers, including some foreigners, participated in the cleanup. They managed to clean 500 square meters, but there are still 130 decares awaiting their intervention.

The volunteers aim to transform the Botanical Garden into a paradise with greenhouses, paths, Japanese and English gardens, and events and lectures for both children and adults. The university does not intend to keep it for itself but to share it with the entire city. Fortunately, they have found support from the Municipality, particularly from the mayor of the “Trakia” district, Kostadin Dimitrov, and the city mayor, Ivan Totev. In the coming months, a public tender is expected to be announced for the construction of a new fence, which will keep polluters out and prevent the dumping of waste within the garden’s boundaries. The big dream is to have the garden ready by 2019 and to make it self-sustaining. However, to make this a reality, the volunteers need our help and plan to organize cleanups twice a month.

The next cleanup will take place on March 11, Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. All that is needed is a willingness, a pair of gloves, and enthusiasm. The fight for greenery in an urban environment is an extremely important common cause, and we shouldn’t be afraid to get our hands dirty.

Source : plovdiv town