KOZJANSKO PARK ORCHARD
The Kozjansko Park’s meadow orchard (collection orchard) is located in the village of Gradišče nad Podsredo (Gradišče 22). It stretches over more than three hectares of land and is cultivated in accordance with the principles of organic farming.
The collection orchard is planted with over 120 different traditional and indigenous apple varieties and over 60 traditional pear varieties. For 52 varieties, the Kozjanski Park Public Institute is designated as the species guardian. The abundance and diversity of varieties is a treasure trove of genetic resources.
Under the fruit trees, there is an extensive meadow with a varied botanical composition, providing food and shelter for many organisms with a colourful array of different flowers. These include many pollinators. Extensive land management ensures a closed food chain between organisms. Butterflies, ladybirds, bees, bumblebees, ants, grasshoppers, beetles, and arachnids are food sources for many birds.
The Kozjanski Park Public Institute, in cooperation with a number of expert institutions, carries out studies of varieties, fauna, flora, and technological experiments in the orchard.
The collection orchard also carries out different studies of fauna and flora, workshops, practical demonstrations, and natural science and project days.
The orchard features an information point with information boards, dwellings for solitary bees, ladybugs, and common earwigs. Nesting boxes for different bird species are placed in the trees.
The trees are labelled with the names of the varieties, also in Braille.
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