RMK will restore the most species-rich forest park of Estonia in Sangaste  20.01

”Because of extensive growth of underwood, the largest tasks this year are cutting the heart of Sangaste forest park, Luise pond, out of the surrounding brushwood and making the forest that is adjoined by used trails more open,” RMK Conservation Management Specialist Kaupo Kohv explained and added that unviable and dangerous trees are planned to be removed from around the pond and from the middle of the park.

The works will be carried out from January to May by OÜ Grün-E world. The reconstruction project for the forest park was prepared by OÜ Artes Terrae at the lead of landscape architect Sulev Nurme.

”The only thing that refers to the English style landscape park it once was are the freely shaped and heterogeneous groups of trees; the park grasslands and open areas are covered in brushwood and the undergrowth of forest stands has become very dense,” landscape architect Sulev Nurme described the current situation at Sangaste park. ”Several views to the surrounding landscape and the castle are blocked by brushwood and observability of the dendrological values of the park is restricted,” he added.

In the upcoming years, constant maintenance should be complemented by planting of foreign tree species to different sections of the park, supporting its original concept.

Since today the forest park is covered in brushwood to a great extent, the cutting volume is also relatively high, and RMK hopes for understanding of the local people at the time of cutting works and removal of the cut material. 

The surface area of Sangaste Manor’s forest park is 37.5 ha and the park forms a landscape entirety with the main building of Sangaste Manor. The forest park was established by Count Berg who used it for forest science in addition to aesthetic shaping of the park. The Count tried to study how tree species from different corners of the world grow in Sangaste’s conditions compared with domestic species. The seeds he brought from his travels laid a foundation for the most species-rich forest park in Estonia.

RMK is a profit-making state agency established under the Forest Act and its main function is economical and efficient management of the state forest. RMK grows forest renewal material, organises forest works, deals with the sale of forest and timber and organises the care of game. In addition to that, RMK creates hiking and forest recreation opportunities at its recreation areas, five national parks of Estonia and almost 40 other reserves, and shapes people's knowledge of nature. RMK manages 38% of Estonian forests.

Additional information:
Kaupo Kohv
RMK Conservation Management Specialist
Telephone 5349 7924
E-mail kaupo.kohv@rmk.ee
www.rmk.ee

Sulev Nurme
Landscape architect, Artes Terrae OÜ
Telephone 5340 1463
E-mail sulev@artes.ee