Works on the reconstruction of the meadow park along Naberezhna Street have been started
Lutsk City Territorial Community aims to reconstruct the existing meadow park on the banks of the river Styr in Lutsk, which is part of the Emerald Network, by creating infrastructure for nature observation, research, preservation and enhancement of biodiversity, providing barrier-free access to nature, particularly the riverbank, and improving its recreational, tourist, and educational appeal for both community residents and visitors.
Preliminary work on the removal of hazardous, dead, and defective trees and shrubs will begin this week. According to the decision of the permanent commission for determining the condition of green spaces and their replacement value in the territory of Lutsk City Territorial Community dated February 18, 2025, and the act of inspection of green spaces dated January 15, 2025, 684 trees and 197 shrubs will be removed in the meadow park area covering over 10 hectares. Among them, 453 are self-seeded ash-leaved maples and 226 are self-seeded willows, as well as hazardous, overmature, defective trees affected by mistletoe covering more than 60% of the crown. The total number of plantings in this area today exceeds 30,000. The vast majority of plantings will be preserved as the foundation of the future park.
The current meadow park area requires reconstruction, as a prolonged period of chaotic intensive use of the territory and natural resources has led to the loss of diversity of typical local vegetation. The area is now covered with self-seeded, homogeneous stands of white willow, disrupting ecosystem stability, leading to the establishment of invasive species and the spread of tree pests (mistletoe). The main threat to local plant communities is not only the rapid spread of these plants but also their impoverishment of the local flora by suppressing other plants. Invasive species include, for example, the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and the ash-leaved maple.
The implementation of the project will indirectly increase fauna diversity. By enhancing the plant species composition in the meadow park, additional conditions will be created for animals to inhabit or utilize the green spaces. For example, the presence of fruit-bearing trees (especially those retaining fruits in winter) attracts various bird species; nut-bearing species attract squirrels and dormice; dense grassy vegetation increases insect diversity, which in turn attracts reptiles and amphibians. The plantings will include nectar-producing species to attract bees and other pollinators, thereby increasing fruit tree yields in surrounding orchards. Where possible, old trees with cavities will be preserved, as they serve as nesting sites for many birds and shelters for mammals; notably, some bat species gather in tree cavities during winter. The green zone aims to restore natural water bodies and diversify riparian vegetation, providing habitat for waterfowl, terrapins, various amphibians, fish, and more. Greater biodiversity in the green zone enhances its ecological balance, benefiting all its inhabitants: plants, animals, and ultimately people.
Technical solutions will focus on climate change adaptation, such as establishing rain gardens and natural meadows with mixed grasses to ensure the meadow park ecosystem's resilience to extreme weather events like excessive rainfall or prolonged droughts. Plant selection will be based on characteristics such as drought resistance, preference for native species, winter hardiness, ornamental value, and the presence of fruits that can serve as a food source for birds. The applied solutions will also contribute to environmental protection through the installation of devices for stormwater treatment from mechanical pollutants and oil-water separators, as well as biological purification using emergent aquatic vegetation in the created rain gardens.
Plants recommended by scientists for planting in the future park:
Trees:
The dawn redwood – Metasequoia glyptostroboides
Eastern hemlock – Tsuga canadensis
Swamp cypress – Taxodium distichum
Silver maple – Acer saccharinum
Black alder – Alnus glutinosa
Grey adler – Alnus incana
Silver birch – Betula pendula
Katsura tree – Cercidiphyllum japonicum
Black walnut – Juglans nigra
Bird cherry – Prunus padus
Pin oak – Quercus palustris
White willow – Salix alba
Small-leaved linden – Tilia cordata
Caucasian wingnuts – Pterocarya pterocarpa
Bushes:
Black chokeberry – Aronia melanocarpa
Common spindle – Euonymus europaeus
Goat willow – Salix caprea
Black elder – Sambucus nigra
Common snowberry – Symphoricarpos albus
Smallflower tamarisk – Tamarix parviflora
Sheep laurel – Kalmia angustifolia
Lianas:
Virginia creeper – Parthenocíssus quinquefolia (L.) Planch
Perfoliate honeysuckle – Lonicera caprifolium
Department of Ecology, Department of Housing and Communal Services