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The Governor of the Belgorod region visited the BelSU Botanical Garden to discuss its potential as a resource for research, and teaching and learning about science.

Evgeny Savchenko, the Governor of the Belgorod region, was taken on an excursion round the BelSU Botanical Garden. He was presented the scientific, educational, and economic activities of the garden. He could see green zones, avenues, shrubberies, flower-bed and plants created and grown within the past 15 years.

15 years ago, it was upon the Governor’s initiative to set up a university botanical garden where a collective farm had used to be.

And EvgenySavchenko was particularly interested in how the BG’s senior managers planned to use the garden’s potential, and which lines of expanding and development they decided to stick to.

According to BelSU Rector, Oleg Polukhin, the BG has already collected over 2,500 plants and trees originated fr om different parts of the world: South America, Africa, and the Far East. But the BG’s collection is supposed to grow up to 5,000 items. The Governor proposed to address to the business community of the region for help in expanding the collection in the quickest possible way.

“Every businessman can buy something for the garden: a rare shrub or an exotic plant. I will present the garden with something of the kind, too. We should look at ourselves first,” said the Governor.

And so he immediately did, and planted a Siberian Stone Pine (Pinussibirica Du Tour) on the side of Guest of Honour Lane.

Head of the BG, Valery Tokhtar, spoke to the guests about the BG’s activities and events, available to Belgorod dwellers and city guests: various excursions, Peony Day, Lilly Day, etc. Besides, the BG is growing its popularity as a beautiful landscape for wedding photography sessions. There is also a possibility to buy BG-produced herbal teas, flower transplants and other planting stock.

The guests went up the tower to see a wonderful view of the garden and the city. Oleg Polukhin and the Governor both agreed on necessity of having a higher tower constructed in the BG’s forested area.

“We should provide conditions for the Botanical Garden to be much in demand for Belgorod dwellers all year long,” said EvgenySavchenko.

He also noted that the BG should gain the position of key player in Belgorod urban gardening. To-date, the BG staff developed three park zone projects for the Belgorod region.

The Governor was very attentive to new ideas and opportunities for expansion and development of this unique garden complex.

“We should develop the infrastructure, expand the biodiversity. It is necessary to have a complex of greenhouses and laboratories to let the BG’s scientists solve numerous scientific and educational problems they have to face today. The Botanical Garden has developed for 15 years. And today is the moment when we should focus on a new loop of its development for the next 15 years,” said BelSU Rector.

He accepted the project proposed by Oleg Polukhin, and set the mission to build up a working group to elaborate BelSU Botanical Garden development program and submit it inthe next two months.

During the visit the Governor could see many innovative projects created by the BG staff. He also liked a light and fast electric car, which he and other guests used to move around the garden.

The BG is also a mini-zoo, where several pheasants are kept. The Governor gave a suggestion to bring several roe deer for living in the forest zone of the BG. Besides, he encouraged the BG staff to start a shop wh ere visitors could buy BG-made herbal teas, marmalade, and herb- and fruit-based health potions.

“You’ve got everything to keep the city-dwellers healthy. The Botanical Garden should be opened to public as a sightseeing attraction. Some of the objects offered should be included in the region’s big projects. The BG’s findings should be taken to commercial and industrial levels,” said the Governor.