Africa in the Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław
Welcome to Africa! – these were the words that could be heard today in the Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław during the official opening of the newly renovated greenhouses.
Prof. Zygmunt Kącki, Director of the Botanical Garden himself, was the guide through the new facilities. There was also the traditional ribbon-cutting ceremony. This was done by prof. Robert Olkiewicz, Rector of the University of Wrocław, and representatives of institutions co-financing the renovation. – The garden is getting more and more beautiful and popular,” emphasised the Rector.
– Last year, the place was visited by more than 200 000 people. Together with the Oratorium Marianum and the Aula Leopoldina[MK1] , the Garden is a showpiece of the University of Wrocław.
After the changes, the Wrocław Botanical Garden looks even more impressive. – It was a very demanding renovation. Not only because of the specifics of the place, but also because of the elements under conservation protection,’ admitted Maciej Wójcik, manager of the greenhouse renovation. – The most important thing is that it was possible to reconcile technical issues with the vision of specialists in exotic plants.
The undertaking was not straightforward. First, the vegetation had to be secured before the renovation could begin. The relocation of the cacti began in early 2021, with demolition work starting in the middle of the year. The renovation continued until 2022, after which the greenhouses were prepared for planting. Today, the facility is already fully planted with vegetation.
– In the new greenhouses we cultivate many very valuable species, and ex-situ conservation is also possible,” stressed prof. Zygmunt Kącki. – Previously, the greenhouses did not meet the conditions for growing particularly difficult, and often endangered in the wild, species of succulent plants, which we, as the Garden, should take special care of. In the new facilities, we can control the climate, and at the same time – which is very important to us as a university unit – they are economical and environmentally friendly buildings.
One greenhouse features flora from the African area with unusual specimens, such as: velvetya bizarre, allaudia, pachypodium and succulent geraniums. The second features flora from Mexico with representatives of the cactus family. The third is the so-called multiplier greenhouse, which allows us to reproduce plants generatively and vegetatively.
It was possible to carry out the renovation thanks to obtaining funding from a project implemented under the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management (task name: “Improving and strengthening the protection of succulent gene resources in the greenhouse crops of the Botanical Garden of the University of Wrocław”), as well as thanks to the support of the authorities of the University of Wrocław. The entire task – renovation of 4 greenhouses – cost nearly PLN 10 million, of which the Garden received about 4 million from the National Fund for Environmental Protection and Water Management.
The restoration of the historic cactus house is currently underway (this is the fourth greenhouse to be renovated as part of the same task). The end of the renovation is planned for this year. The next activity is the restoration of the Palm House – closed in 2006.
Text: Katarzyna Górowicz- Maćkiewicz
Translated by Wiktoria Łakoma (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.
