AS WE GO ON
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER 2023
On 1 August, Horticultural Adjustments Ltd. took over the management of the sites for future planting. Our first meeting began in the office of the Authority where we went over the plans and went over all the necessary details including the schedule of works. Subsequently, our entire team, consisting of contractor representatives, professional supervisors, municipal representatives and the project coordinator, went into the field. During this day, we walked through all the planned sites together and carefully discussed the various aspects of the planting and fine-tuned the work procedures so that, for example, there would be no major traffic constraints on the busy Through Street during implementation. Any work that would restrict traffic even slightly was scheduled outside of the morning and afternoon rush hours.
We have provided information signs at each bed to give you an overview of what we are planning in that section. The actual implementation of the project has already begun. The first step is preparing the beds, which involves removing the soil from the planting bed, mixing it with a good quality, nutrient-rich substrate, and then returning this mixture back to the bed. The planting process itself will depend on the weather conditions to ensure successful establishment of the plants. However, the first bed has already been established at the Community Centre. However, we will wait until the end of September to plant more there. We are planning to involve two classes from the local primary school as part of our environmental education efforts. We are looking forward to working with the pupils to help us plant the garden at the Community Centre.
OCTOBER 2023
Throughout October we are working intensively on planting. After the preparation of the beds, the actual planting takes place, and now we also take care of the newly planted plants, which includes regular watering. Join us in enjoying the photo documentation showing the progress. On 4 October we welcomed the third graders from the local primary school to the garden of the community centre and spent a great morning together. Photos and video to watch here.
It happens, but it shouldn’t! We have slatted some of the beds that are on a slope so that the soil does not flood and water stays there longer. Unfortunately, before we could plant the beds in this way, someone stole the slats from two large beds during the night. We hope that something like this will not happen again.
NOVEMBER 2023
The November weather, especially the first half of it, favours the continuation of the project. Daytime temperatures are between 4 and 12 °C, and even at night they remain above freezing. This gives us ideal conditions to continue planting intensively. We are trying to plant as many trees as possible by the end of this year to ensure that as many seedlings as possible have taken hold at the end of the project, in April 2024. Over the next five years we will give the planted greenery careful and regular care to ensure the sustainability of our efforts.
It is said that „habit is an iron shirt“. And this saying is borne out in our planting. Where there used to be strips of grass along the Throughway and people parked on them, there are now beds. Unfortunately, some people have not noticed this fact or even deliberately ignore it and tend to drive into the beds. We are therefore planning to install protective natural barriers. We believe this will protect the newly planted beds from being destroyed.
Turn of the year 2023 / 2024
Most of the planting work is completed at this time. Naturally, the frosts in December and January do not allow further work outside. It is the period of dormancy and maintenance work. Therefore, we are using this time to plan and submit additional planting plans to the Fund for approval.
The photos show how much honest work has already been done on the project.
FEBRUARY / MARCH 2024
The Pro.luka landscape studio team builds on the first project documentation and adds additional green infrastructure elements. See the document „Additional plantings Zdiby“. In total, this increases the planting by a further 2,162 trees.
These trees will be planted in existing areas, but new sections are also being created.
The additional planting will be in addition to the 4 existing beds identified in the attached PDF of the project as follows:
Area 3 – By the Community Centre- Area 5 – By the Bell Tower- Area 6 – By the Gorge- Area 8 – By the Gopher.
We are also creating 4 new areas. All of these new areas are located along or in the immediate vicinity of Průběžná Street and are related to and complementary in place and content to the first planting: Area 1 – Remízky bus stop, Area 2 – Přemyšlení bus stop, Area 4 – in front of the chapter house, Area 7 – Veltěž bus stop.
We are pleased to have been able to add other green infrastructure elements in cooperation with the SFŽP. Also the selection of tree species has been maintained in this second phase. Overall, a uniform character has been maintained along the entire length of Průběná Street. As we are nearing the end of the project, we are taking our time and preparing the planting beds for the new plants immediately upon approval of this replanting.
In order to protect the new shrub plantings in the immediate vicinity of the heavily trafficked road, accompanying protective fences are newly designed as a support and safety feature.
The reason for their use is to protect the plantings from damage by passing cars (driving into the beds) and possibly also by unruly pedestrians. The fences are designed from wooden stakes and jute rope with steel cord (antivandal). The wooden posts are designed in hardwood (oak, larch), anchored into the ground. The part of the stake in the ground will be treated with a protective coating of rubber asphalt. The poles will also be fitted with reflective elements for good identification in the traffic area in the dark.
The much needed aftercare is not neglected. As the spring is quite dry, regular watering is very important. New planting is also carefully staked and regularly inspected.
Due to Zdib’s excellent success in obtaining funding from Norway Grants, it was decided to produce a document detailing these achievements. We believe that the document will not only provide inspiration but also motivation for many other municipalities and towns to get involved in the process of applying for Norway Grants. A team of experienced professionals immediately began their work of several months. We are looking forward to the outcome, which will showcase not only the individual actors in the projects, but also the results of many years of work of the whole teams. Our planting of greenery in the central part of the village is one of four projects that the documentary will capture in Zdiby.
New planting
Follow-up care
Norwegian Funds Shooting
APRIL 2024
The last month of our project is in full swing. It’s a lot of work, but we’re still managing. April is marked by the completion of the second wave of planting and installation of protective fencing on busy sections of the Throughway. These fences are necessary to protect the new plantings from vehicles, especially where curbs are missing. We chose oak stakes connected with natural jute rope, which blend in well with the rural setting while aesthetically protecting our planting beds without obscuring the new plants.
This spring’s months have been marked by extreme drought, so we have been paying close attention to regular irrigation throughout the spring.
A documentary about Zdibi, filmed by the Norwegian Funds, is also gradually being produced. Its production will extend into the summer so that the new greenery can be captured in its full glory.
We are happy that we have successfully completed the planting of each planned tree, whether in the form of a tree, multi-stem or shrub, and will continue to care for them on a regular basis. We are transforming the landscape around us into a greener one, and this transformation will be gratefully returned to us in many benefits in the decades to come.
