In spring, our partners from the University of Tartu invited meadow caretakers and owners to participate in a survey, through which we collected input for shaping the agricultural policy of the next EU funding period, while also looking for feedback on the advisory service launched by the Environmental Board.

Ten more to go!

Amphibians need small, fishless ponds in which to spawn, but these are disappearing from our landscape. By restoring small water bodies, we are providing a home for amphibians and creating a habitat for many other species, including insects and bats.

This spring, Liis Kiviloo – the famous Estonian volleyball player and Lidl Estonia’s consultant for sustainable entrepreneurship – approached us to find out how Lidl could collaborate with our project to contribute to Estonia’s natural wealth with a larger group!

A research article based on a nationwide survey explored how managers of Estonian semi-natural grasslands assess current conditions and support schemes, and what could be improved in the future to ensure the continued provision of ecosystem services and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Last week, on a day that was simultaneously windy, rainy, and sunny, we brought in reinforcements to continue work on the hedge and tree-lined avenues that we started last year at Mäemõisa, at one of our cooperation partners in the enrichment of agricultural landscapes project. This time, we planted a two-row hedge consisting of hawthorns, currants, and Antonovka apple cultivars. A total of 465 plants were placed in the soil.

Krista Takkis and Katrin Tambet, who are members of our working group on the diversity of agricultural landscapes, visited all the grassland strips sown on the fields over a period of two years. They also compiled more than 200 plant lists and examined 150 plants in the sample square in greater detail. They did a very good. They often spent nine hours a day walking.

In July, we invited environmental specialists and other interested parties from local governments to visit the alien species control areas. The aim was to share their experiences controlling four alien species (knotweed,  false spiraea, Canada goldenrod and goldenrod, and the common snowberry) so far, and to discuss the challenges faced by rural municipalities in relation to alien species.

Agriculture is a lifestyle based largely on experimentation. Which crops, varieties and animal breeds should be grown? Which technologies should be used? Which fertilizers and plant protection products? There are thousands of questions. Among them, there is one that may have received undeservedly little attention: How can nature help me in my work?

This year, we were fortunate enough to be able to get our foot in the door of Hiiu Folk, where we had the opportunity to organise one of the folk festival’s traditional nature trips. Our trip took us to Kassari’s diverse coastal meadows, which are grazed by horses and cattle belonging to the Tikk family – voted last year’s best managers of meadows and the favourites of Maaleht readers – and where, despite the bustling morning and early hours, 30 folk festival goers had arrived to explore the area.

The Nature Conservation Biology Working Group of the University of Tartu also monitored the hatching success rate of waders nesting in coastal meadows this year. The results of the monitoring show that foxes inhabiting the coastal meadows and their burrows were the main issue for the year. A total of 178 dens were monitored.