Tallinn aims to find out how the green areas in the city center are being used
Starting this week, residents of Tallinn can inform the city about the central green areas that are actively used and in what ways and how often they are used. The survey will help the city decide which areas in the city should be mowed more or less next year.
Deputy Mayor Vladimir Svet stated that the city has intentionally reduced mowing and plans to consistently mow only those areas that truly require it. “However, we have received very diverse feedback from Tallinners about unmowed green areas, so it would be good to know how these areas are actually being used. Not all urban greenery needs to be just what is called ‘English lawn.’ This is justified where people actively use a particular green area, but, for example, it doesn’t make sense to mow an area located between two traffic lanes. There, plants that offer a good living and nesting opportunity for various insects or birds should be allowed to grow,” said Svet.
According to Monika Haukanõmm, the Head of the City Center district, a balance must be struck between humans and nature – convenience and safety from a human perspective, but also preserving biodiversity from a nature perspective. “The choice doesn’t have to be between two options, total natural anarchy and ‘English lawns’. There is a third option where unmowed areas are consciously developed into wildflower meadows. Generally, we all know that the climate is warming, and drought periods are also appearing in Estonia. A new approach to wildflower meadows could help mitigate summer temperatures and bring tangible benefits not only to animals and insects but also to people,” said Haukanõmm. She added that she encourages city residents to actively participate in the survey, as everyone’s opinion influences the final outcome.
The survey will be conducted on the Maptionnaire platform from August 17 to September 12, and it can be accessed here. As part of the survey, participants are asked to mark green areas on the map that are used in the City Center and answer questions about their use.
There is a lot of biodiversity in Tallinn – insects, birds, and various animals live alongside us, and it is important to provide suitable habitats for them as well. To increase urban biodiversity, Tallinn has set a goal to consistently reduce the amount of mowing in green areas. For example, new contracts for maintaining various green areas in the city have been in effect since December 1 of last year, outlining less intensive mowing of these areas.