Purpose / Theme
An interactive demonstration garden is being developed in the Mālkalns area of Tukums by complementing the existing public park with new infrastructure, landscaping and digital solutions. The aim of the demonstration garden is to promote nature awareness, environmental education and public engagement by creating an environment where visitors can interactively explore plants, natural processes and the interaction between people and the environment.
Location
Mālkalns area (Ziedonis’ Garden), Tukums, Latvia.
Main Features
Within the project, the existing area is being enhanced with:
the Gardener’s House;
a virtual exhibition;
an audio guide featuring the voice of Imants Ziedonis;
technical equipment for educational and public engagement activities;
interactive information boards;
thematic exhibitions and new plantings;
pedestrian paths;
permanent benches and bicycle stands.
Intended Impact
The demonstration garden will improve public understanding of nature, plants and sustainable management of green spaces, provide an accessible environment for educational and recreational activities, encourage local community involvement, and increase the visibility of Mālkalns and Tukums as a destination for both domestic and international visitors.
How the Demonstration Garden Follows the Project Principles
1. Advancing Interactivity to Improve Understanding of Plant–People–Environment Interactions
Interactivity is being and will continue to be provided through thematic exhibitions, interactive information boards, the audio guide, the virtual exhibition and educational activities for different target groups. Seminars, community activities and other events are planned in the demonstration garden to encourage active visitor participation and improve understanding of natural processes, biodiversity and the interaction between people and the environment.
The first stage of the audio guide has already been developed and currently includes stories about sour cherries, ornamental cherries, Japanese cherries, pedunculate oak, red oak, birches and lilacs.
By the end of the project, ten additional audio stories will be developed, covering sweet cherries, rowans, lindens, hornbeams, pines, hawthorns, peach trees, nectarines, apricots and walnut trees.
By the end of the project, a concept for the Gardener’s House interactive exhibition “Roots” will also be developed, providing a basis for its implementation through future projects.
2. Providing Basic Information On-site and Additional Digital Information
Basic information about the garden elements is being and will continue to be provided through information boards, while more detailed content is available digitally through the audio guide, virtual exhibition and QR codes. These solutions provide visitors with access to additional information about plants, exhibitions, the values of the area and the themes of the garden.
By the end of the project, seven additional information boards with information and QR codes will be installed in the garden, providing access to the expanded “Garden and Forest School on Mālkalns Hill” audio guide on the izi.travel platform.
3. Linking the Demonstration Garden Content with the Project Concept and Information Network
The Mālkalns demonstration garden is part of the international INTERACTIVE GARDENS demonstration garden network. The garden content, thematic exhibitions and digital solutions are being developed in line with the overall project concept and linked to the project’s information network, ensuring consistent access to information and facilitating the exchange of experience among the partner demonstration gardens.
By the end of the project, the demonstration garden website will be linked to the common Interactive Gardens interactive map, providing access to the webpages of the other partner demonstration gardens.
4. Using Visitor Feedback to Improve the Demonstration Garden
During the piloting phase, solutions for collecting and evaluating visitor feedback will be introduced in the demonstration garden. QR codes, digital evaluation tools and other interactive methods are planned to collect visitors’ opinions on the garden content, activities and services.
The feedback received will be used to further improve the content, activities and services of the demonstration garden, as well as the overall visitor experience.