Kurzeme Planning Region team of the Green Guardians Project, together with the expert of trees Gvido Leiburgs, has implemented environmental awareness lessons in 9 Kurzeme eco-schools. In total, more than 160 pupils from different parts of Kurzeme participated in the classes. They gained new knowledge about nature and biodiversity, and practical experience which helps to form a responsible attitude towards the environment.
Insight into lessons
- Expert Gvido Leiburgs helped pupils understand that alleys are not only important islands of biodiversity — home to birds, insects, lichens, mosses, and mushrooms — but also a valuable cultural heritage, as they are often planted near manors, castles, or lead to ancient cemeteries, preserving evidence of the past landscape and people’s lifestyle.
- Children gained practical skills — they learned to identify tree species by their leaves, got to know the diversity of nature that lives in each tree, measured the circumference of trees, determined the height of a tree, and studied the surrounding environment. During the lessons, they had the opportunity not only to observe, but also to look at and touch specially protected insect species living in trees, learning how these small organisms form an essential part of the balance of the ecosystem.
- One of the schools discovered a previously unknown alley, while in another a previously unregistered large tree was noticed – proof that natural values often hide right here, in our everyday environment.
- On the rainiest days, children played an interactive game with questions to see who in the class knew the most about trees. The game not only helped to reinforce knowledge about trees and tree alleys, but also to maintain a competitive spirit in the classroom.
- Students were introduced to the Project’s GIS (geographic information system) survey on tree alleys and invited to participate in the campaign “Become an Alley Detective!”
- Project team was delighted to receive feedback afterwards with completed surveys that children had completed together with their parents or classmates.
The Kurzeme Planning Region team would like to thank all schools for their warm welcome and children for their active participation and curiosity!
The cycle of lessons invited pupils to get involved in exploring tree alleys in an exciting and creative way. By getting to know the values of nature, children develop a desire to protect and care for them.
