On the morning of July 24, Vecpuišu Park in Valmiera was filled with the laughter of children – pupils from the Valmiera preschool educational institution “Pienenīte” and the Valmiermuiža preschool educational institution “Burtiņš” took part in creative activities to learn more about the importance of water in nature, its use, circulation in nature and purification.
The youngest children studied the path of water and how it is absorbed into the ground. To learn how water is absorbed into different types of surfaces, the children imitated “rain clouds” by pouring water on the lawn and flowers. Afterwards, they drew objects that need water on a daily basis on the pavement with chalk.
In another group, the children divided into teams and took part in a competition to see which team could transfer water from one bucket to another faster using different containers. Each participant could choose which container they thought was most suitable for this task. Some chose a jug, others a cup or a spoon. After the activity, the children concluded how much water could be carried with each container, which was more suitable, and also concluded what influenced the suitability of the container for this task. After the activity, everyone drew something related to the theme of rainwater.
The oldest children conducted an experiment by making a water purification filter. Following the instructions, each group created their own filter using cotton wool, charcoal, sand, and small stones. Once the filters were ready, dirty water was poured into them. The children could watch the water flow through each layer of the filter until it finally flowed into a container, significantly cleaner than before. Afterwards, each child drew a picture of the filter they had made. The drawings were displayed in Vecpuišu Park, next to the environmental exhibition “A Tree – More Than Just a Shadow”.
On the afternoon of July 24, residents were invited to visit the exhibition “Tree – More Than a Shadow” and vote for the solutions they would like to see in the urban environment in Valmiera. The idea of planting trees along the sidewalk near the Valmiera bus station received the most votes. Reducing the width of the paved sidewalk and adding a row of greenery would not only provide shade but also a cooling effect. There is a large ditch in the green area near the Valmiera Olympic Center, and residents particularly appreciated the possibility of creating a wetland there. This would serve as a habitat for various wild species, thus promoting biodiversity, as well as filtering and purifying water. Residents also appreciated the idea of creating a rain garden at the intersection of Rīgas and Kārļa Baumaņa streets. During heavy rainfall, the rain garden fills with water, promoting infiltration and slowing down the flow of rainwater into the sewer system. This would be particularly relevant at the proposed intersection, as it floods during heavy rainfall.
Visitors to the exhibition appreciated the opportunity to see how various places in the city could look if nature-based solutions were implemented there. The proposed solutions would not only help to reduce environmental problems, but also make the urban environment more attractive.
The activities took place within the framework of the European Union’s LIFE program project “Developing and demonstrating portfolio of nature based and smart solutions for improving urban climate resilience in Latvia and Estonia” (LIFE LATESTadapt).
Prepared by:
Elizabete Brūvere
Valmiera Municipality Government
Branding and public relations department
Environmental communication project manager
