Bird-friendly garden of Szeged

Tha primary school is situated next to a highway and between commi-box (block of flats), that is why so important to improve the air quality and decrease the noise level. The school yard is already have a plenty of old trees, but the shrub and grass level are still require more diversity. The planted sites are now separated from playgrounds with fences made by willow branches.

The initiative was the idea of enthusiastic parents and teachers, who were really keen on the close-nature surroundings of their children. They worried about the local air quality as a four-lane highway goes near to the school. The discussions with the involvment of experts started in 2016 and the first steps were made in community collaboration. Birdnests and feeders were made by the children as well most of the plantation was made by them with the help and guidance of adults.

The schoolgarden and its surroundings were surveyed for birds to select the most appropriate plant types. Several perennials, shrubs and tree species were gathered with herbs and flowers to make the schoolyard more colourful and diverse.  

Self-founded during the early stages, but recently won a small amount of found for planting new flora species and collect rain water.

Biodiversity and Urban Regeneration:

• Providing food for birds by planting specific trees and shrubs
• Put out watering and feeding facilities and birdnests
• Improve the quality of soil 

Public Health and Well-being:

• By the plantation of divers height of plants the noise level have decreased and the local quality of air have improved.

Social Cohesion:

• Raising the awareness of the next generations

The Arany János Elementary School is situated in the outskirts of Szeged, where it is surrounded by commi-boxes, the size of the school garden is around 0,7 ha. The land is owned by the municipality. The area is already fairly diverse from the aspect of biodiversity, but increasing the number of plants which are favourable for birds is beneficial. 

It is relatively easy to adopt the here applied methods, the most crucial point is the involvment of locals or the efficiency of a bottom-up initiatives. The utilized materials are easy to acquire and somewhat cheap.  

The most important point during the implementation of a bird-friendly garden was the contribution of community: parents and teachers and children because the for the first two years the creation of the garden was financied by the "stakeholders": parents, local enterpreneurs and experst. 

Arany János Ground School

Arany János Elementary School