A New Lease on Life for the Botanical Garden

The green spaces of Bishkek. There are less of them every year, and as a result our beloved capital is turning into a concrete jungle. One of the few remaining islands of green is the E. Gareev Botanical Garden. Unfortunately, it has been a difficult last few years, and the government either cannot, or does not want to return the Garden to its former glory. So it is that the citizens of Bishkek have taken it upon themselves to do something about it.

 

Today, representatives from the “Roza Otunbayeva Initiative” Fund, “Kochmon,” “Archa Initiative, who were also joined by volunteers, gathered to put things in order. They were also sure to invite passionate citizens, as there is more than enough work to go around. After all, everything has to be made ready for the “Green Bishkek” Festival, which will be taking place next weekend.

 

“The Festival for the resurrection of the Botanical Garden is a big and important event for the capital. We are expecting almost 2,000 people. There is not a lot of time left for make the city ready for these guests. That’s why today depends on our volunteers; they will determine how ready our Garden is for visitors. We have an idea. A lot of people are helping us, professionals as well as involved citizens. For example, designer Tatyana Borotnikova will try to create a party atmosphere for the Festival. We need to help her with that,” said representative from the “Archa Initiative” Public Fund Dmitriy Vetoshkin.

 

This help will take the form of creating festive hay bales, and putting them in strategic points specially chosen by the designer. These bales will become improvised mazes and special places to relax. In addition, volunteers will clean up garbage, mow the grass, and plant flowers. Organizers noted that participation in the “TazaBish” is not just about helping to landscape the city. Participants can use this impromptu cleaning day to gain new skills. For example, specialists will show how to correctly plant flowers, or how to use tools that are usually regarded by city-dwellers as exotic, such as the scythe.

 

Volunteers, the majority of whom are young adults, will line up to start work. Organizers will have to determine who is responsible for mowing, painting, or taking out the garbage (this is where most people raise their hands!) Everyone will be ready to take their places by 10 AM.

 

Additionally, the good citizens of Bishkek will also be arriving at the Garden to help. In fact, whole families will be participating! Children will be interested by their parent’s efforts, and want to help.

 

“Mom, are we going to clean up everything here today? Why is it so dirty? And who was the one who made it so dirty?” – a seven or eight year old girl will ask her mother.

 

What would you answer? Years of mismanagement, and the absence of the necessary financial support have come home to roost. The Botanical Garden has lost its former glory, just like Bishkek, which used to be one of the greenest cities in the Soviet Union. In order to change the situation, we cannot wait for help for the local government, we need to take things into our own hands, so that our children can have a place to play and breathe the fresh air.