Celebrating nature this week - events all over Estonia focus on wildlife gardens

From Wednesday to Sunday, the Nature Festival will take place in Tartu, Tallinn, Võru, and Räpina, on the shores of Lake Võrtsjärv. It will culminate in a nature marathon across Estonia. Participation is free of charge unless otherwise indicated.

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The Nature Festival will take place from 7-11 June, with a programme inspired by wildlife in gardens, the Botanical Gardens' 220th anniversary and the Year of Mobility. Over five days, there will be exciting activities for everyone.

This time, the focus is on both public and private gardens and the treasures they hold, especially natural biodiversity. "We invite you to relax and enjoy the gardens, but also to move and listen," said Kaarin Hein, Project Manager of the Nature Festival. "During the Nature Festival, there will be guided tours of both the Tartu and Tallinn Botanical Gardens and the Zoo. In addition, the programme includes several activities in private and community gardens and public parks. On the third day of the festival, musicians and writers will once again perform their bird song-inspired creations at the Bird Jam event, with musicians Kitty Florentine, LI:V, Meisterjaan and writers Doris Kareva, Veronika Kivisilla, Janika Läänemets, Mirjam Parve and Aare Pilv."

A nationwide Nature Observation Marathon will take place over the weekend, requiring no prior knowledge to participate in: "Everyone is welcome to take part in the observation," said Hein. All interested visitors are welcome to take part in the observation events. There are also events for the whole family in Tartu in the courtyard of the Aparaaditehas and in Tallinn Zoo. "There will be activities for everyone, children and adults," she added. "In addition to workshops on moths and herbs, folk musician Kristi Kool will lead a workshop concert on Estonian folk music, which is very much inspired by nature."

The festival's principal organiser is the University of Tartu Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, and the events are organised by partners all over Estonia. The Nature Festival has been organised since 2015. Initially focused on Tartu, the programme have developed into a nationwide festival within a few years. The Nature Festival is part of the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024 programme. The Environmental Investment Centre and Tartu 2024 support it.

The organiser may take pictures, videos and audio recordings of the event, share them with participants and public media, and use them to market similar events.