PHOTOS: Zagreb Botanical Garden lets it grow 

Zagreb Botanical Garden, a peaceful oasis in the centre of Zagreb and the oldest university botanical garden in Croatia, have a little surprise for their visitors when they reopen later this month and shared it today on their Facebook page.

This season they have decided to go a step further in cherishing biodiversity and not mow the grass at the gardens. 

“For years, little by little, we have left pieces of the garden unmowed as a part of the European “Let it Grow initiative”. At first, visitors, who are used to seeing everything neatly cut close to the ground not knowing about the advantages of a domestic colourful meadow over the English style of lawn disapproved. Kids were the first to understand and give hearty support because they instinctively understand that butterflies, hedgehogs and earthworms need grass, flowers and shade. And little by little adults started to understand too that the Botanical Garden is not a city park and appreciate beautiful biodiversity of domestic species, especially visitors from abroad who do not have it at their homes.

This year, amidst all that is happening we decided to go a step further – we will not mow anything except for the central piece of the French style floral parterre and circles around the planted flora. May the daisies, nettle and grass be merry, may hedgehogs and lizards cheerfully run around, and the butterflies fly. Long live nature!,” said Zagreb Botanical Garden. 

Since the Botanical Garden is closed for visitors, a little family of ducks gathered courage and embarked on a little tour.

“Let it Grow” is a joint campaign by three of Europe’s largest science engagement associations – the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), the European network of science centres and museums (Ecsite) and the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI).

Together they aim to help make our communities into havens for native species of animals, plants and all other forms of life – working ecosystems that will help protect our continent from biodiversity loss and invasive alien species.