Athalassa Forest Gardens: The magic of nature in the center of Nicosia unfolds on 4.5 hectares of land and is worth visiting (video-photo)

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PHOTOS/VIDEO: YOTA HATZIKOSTA

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Athalassa forest gardens. A breath away from the city center, where every year thousands of visitors and scholars, locals and foreigners visit to see up close the more than 300 species of plants, among them more than 35 & # 8217; of them endemic (ie we will meet them only in Cyprus). An oasis that unfolds on 4.5 hectares of land and was built by the Department of Forests, where children, young and old, people of all ages, will live & # 8211; if they visit the Gardens-, a beautiful and special experience. Where one meets the cycle of life, since trees, plants, birds, reptiles coexist harmoniously.

politis.com.cy was found in the Dasovotanikos Garden B & # 8217; where we were guided by Mr. Glafkos Kyriakou, Assistant Regional Officer of Nicosia, Larnaca, Famagusta and Officer of Management, Land and Planning.

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“We find the beauty and magic of nature not only in the countryside or in the forest but also within walking distance from the Capital. Two forest-botanical gardens, occupying an area of 4.5 hectares, adorn the Athalassa National Forest Park. They are located just behind the facilities of the Athalassa Forest Nursery and are managed by the Nicosia Forest Region, Larnaca Famagusta “said Mr. Kyriakou on our website, who explained to us how. the Forest Gardens A & # 8217; and B & # 8217; Athalassas -as their name is mentioned-, are two gardens with various forest species of trees, shrubs, herbaceous, grassy and bulbous species. “

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The main reasons for the installation of the two adjacent forest gardens A & # 8217; and B & # 8217 ;, according to Mr. Kyriakou are five:

The gathering of a large number of plant species, both Cypriot and world flora in an area that is accessible to a large number of visitors.
Creating a live phytological collection for research, education and training purposes mainly for researchers, students, pupils and anyone else interested
Protecting our genetic resources .
The use of reproductive material such as seeds and cuttings from the Athalassa Forest Nursery for the purpose of disseminating the population hosted
The development of environmental awareness and love of young and old for the green and especially of our flora./li>

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Ο Δασοβοτανικός Α & # 8217; was established in 1964 and contains about 1000 plants from 173 different species of trees and shrubs belonging to 130 genera and 36 families, while the Dasobotanic B & # 8217; was established in 1994 and included 290 different plant species. The effort of the Department of Forests was to gather in this area mainly native shrubs, herbaceous, grassy and bulbous plants of our place.

The catastrophe in 2010 and its current form

From 2010 to 2013, deep excavations were carried out throughout the garden in searches for Turkish Cypriot missing persons. The garden was almost completely destroyed. From 2014 until today began a huge effort to renovate the forest-botanical garden B & # 8217; on a new basis. The Dasobotanika garden has become more thematic, but also more attractive, as it includes more than 5000 plants from 300 different plant species, of which 37 are endemic species. Dasobotanic B & # 8217; is constantly enriched with new species from the Cypriot Flora.

In addition, within the framework of the purpose of serving biodiversity, new innovations have been introduced taking into account the fauna but also the education and information of all citizens.

It is important to emphasize that the garden as well as the The paths, the sanitary facilities and the raised educational awning that was built, are designed for all our fellow citizens to have access, especially people with special needs.

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Innovations that brought the world closer

“The area where the Dasovotanikos garden was installed was flat. It is now embossed. Neither plants nor the human eye likes a flat surface. For & # 8217; This is why small hills have been created with a corresponding quality of soil requirements of the plants but also with rocks that create suitable conditions for survival and growth “, said Mr. Kyriakou. Regarding the care of plants, he noted that “every plant needs specific climatic conditions to survive without straining or being driven to its limits of endurance. For example, cyclamen prefers the slit of the rock as the song says “.

But the human eye also wants to see a change of landscape & # 8230;

Walking in space, the stimuli of the external environment should be pleasant to the senses, such as smell, sight, hearing, touch and even taste. For this reason, the liquid element has been introduced in the forest vegetation with the creation of a small wetland and a waterfall.

The “strange” visitors

Visit the wetland daily Hundreds of birds such as partridges, partridges, herons, hoofed sparrows, sparrows and endemic spetsopoult. We also have friends from our animal kingdom such as hare and fox lately.

Only with photovoltaics

Note here that the electrical needs in the parks are covered by three photovoltaic panels that accumulate electricity in batteries that supply the sanitary facilities and the water pump of the waterfall. In this way, sustainable development is promoted but also pupils, students and other visitors are educated.

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Unique fauna and flora of Cyprus

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Mr. Kyriakou cites Great Britain and Germany as examples, in order to emphasize to us how rich and unique the fauna and flora of Cyprus is. “Suffice it to say, that these countries have 15 to 25 endemic plants, and Cyprus 140! And this is because the island emerged from the sea, so the land is special “. Asked how the visitors and especially the children react, Mr. Kyriakou explained that “we certainly do not expect the children and visitors to become botanists by transferring their knowledge during their visit. We want them to get to know up close, through a pleasant environment of a route, experientially, the beauty of our flora and fauna, the effort made by some of our fellow citizens, especially in the old days with the exhibition tools they see, to love and reflect on ” . This, he said, is done experientially by seeing the plants, the birds, the hundreds of butterflies but also knowing the value they had for our ancestors, as well as their connection with our religion and culture.

Nature Education

Children, either with their parents or through school trips, also learn to build nests for watercress birds that we produce in the woodland garden. The children in their groups learn to turn the watercress into bird nests, to paint them and to attach them to various places in the trees.

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The second example concerns the experiential way of learning important native species of our flora. The map of Cyprus has been constructed with plants on a small artificial hill. The shape of Cyprus is created with plants that grow in each area. Pentadactylus siderite forms the Pentadactylus Mountains. The Akamas Peninsula, the Akamas Centaurs and the Cypriot tulip. The baths of Aphrodite with the exorcism of Aphrodite. The village of Polemi with the tulip of Polemi. Cape Greco with the invisible. Troodos with laurel and myrsini. We have ropes and cyclamen by the beach.

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The best time to visit the Gardens

Each season has its own beauty. Each season maintains its own plants that we may not see another season. Also the flowering period is different and we meet it depending on the species in different months. ΓΙ & # 8217; This is why the forest gardens are visited all year round. What makes it difficult is the weather. Basically rainy days and high temperatures. Especially the area of Athalassa gathers very high temperatures in Summer.

In order to protect the visitors from the sun but also to make their visit more enjoyable, we built arches along the paths that have been climbed and covered with Cypriot climbing plants. Along the way visitors get to know, among other things, the various native species that can be used in backyard gardens. Here they experience experientially the beauty and value of the Cypriot flora, which is most suitable in gardens and green spaces. Cypriot plants are drought tolerant and adapted to the climatic conditions of our island.

It should also be emphasized that all the paths have a puree substrate, which does not muddy and does not slip with dimensions and specifications for the disabled and two canopies with table seats for rest. One of them is elevated, overlooking the forest vegetation, also with a ramp for the disabled.

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Katerina and Kyriaki

When asked how difficult it is to install and maintain all these plants, Mr. Kyriakou explains that the installation of plants in the forest botanical garden was done with all care, taking into account the requirements of each plant and the thematic classification of the area. “Maintenance is the hardest part of our job,” he explains. It refers to the two guards in the Gardens, Mrs. Katerina and Mrs. Kyriaki. Two women who devote effort and time to take care of the gardens on a daily basis, stating that yes it is a rather tedious job but at the same time explaining that “every plant needs special care. To survive all these plants need knowledge, love and passion “

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How can one visit the garden?

The garden is open daily during office hours. It is then closed to protect plants and infrastructure. Anyone can visit it. As there is a lot of traffic, large groups should call 22403733 or 22403741 for an appointment.

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