The Horticultural Society Maribor was founded in 1869 with the aim of planting public green space in the city of Maribor. The parks, avenues, and other green urban areas of the city are the lasting legacy of the then "Maribor Beautification Society", which celebrates its 155th anniversary this year. As part of the celebrations of this venerable anniversary, a "pop-up" exhibition was organized to showcase the city's green amenities.
Photo 1: Photo Credit: Horticultural Society of Maribor
The developing city acquired most of its green plantations in the 19th century, when the arrival of the "Southern Railway" began to give it the feel of a European city.
The first tree planted in Maribor's City Park was 151 years ago in the form of an avenue for chestnut trees (Aesculus hippocastanum L). Gradually, in the style of the English parkland, the park was given the framework we know today. Maribor City Park is a popular promenade and meeting point for city dwellers from all generations. The park is home to many trees over 140 years old.
Photo2: Photo credit: maribor city park - Search Images
The Maribor Horticultural Society, in the framework of its participation in the EU Erasmus + project ForestWell, approved by the national agency CMEPIUS, highlights the tree diversity of the city of Maribor and the Podravska region in several ways, namely:
- finding and bringing together partners in the implementation activities of the project
- informing the public about the project activities
- taking initiatives and participating in implementation
We highlight just a few of the joint events: Marking of tree species with eco-labels in the park on Slomškov Square in Maribor, installation of the 'natural tree value' label at the almond tree on Kneza Koclja Street in Maribor; initiative and coordination for tree planting in the Botanical Garden of the University of Maribor, initiative for cooperation with OE Maribor, Forest Institute of the Republic of Slovenia in the planting of trees in the municipality of Slovenska Bistrica; establishment of a weekly column on Maribor trees in the magazine Štajerc, participation in an international conference at the Faculty of Biotechnics, UL, and promotion of the ForestWell project in the framework of a one-month exhibition on the occasion of the 155th Maribor Forest Festival. Public Green Spaces: Public Health, etc., are some of the activities carried out so far.
Photo3: Photo Credit: Tatjana Klakočar
Many planned activities are still ahead of us, all of which aim to promote forest tourism, wellness, and cuisine.
Written by: Borut Ambrožič, President of the Horticultural Society Maribor, Slovenia
