Lozova. The Druzhba arboretum. The townspeople's green friend and part of the Kharkiv region's nature reserve fund

In modern towns, wholesale construction leaves less and less space for the green islands that produce oxygen and create saving shade. Ukraine has 57 arboretums, most of them created 20-40 years ago on the site of old forest parks. The Druzhba arboretum in the town of Lozova, Kharkiv region, was founded in the 1930s, and over its almost 100-year history it has changed its structure, its name, its status and its popularity.

 

Lozova, Kharkiv region.  The Druzhba arboretum

In the first years of the young Soviet state the authorities were eager to show that they were capable of building a garden city, using the free voluntary-compulsory labour of the population at subbotniks. Plans for greening the towns were drawn up, trees and shrubs were planted on wasteland and on the outskirts. Green territories were joined to the industrial centres in short order, and soon became places of mass cultural recreation with dance floors, summer cinemas and children's attractions.

 

The devastating war could not pass the green massifs by. Trees burned in the fire during the fighting, timber was felled to help the front and for economic needs. After the town was liberated, while restoring the objects of the national economy, the townspeople set about reviving the park. Thousands upon thousands of trees were planted, avenues and flower beds were created, a children's playground and a dance floor were opened, benches and lanterns were installed. As in every park of culture and rest, there was a shooting gallery, a reading room, Soiuzdruk kiosks, swings and roundabouts.

 

In the post-war period a great many of the country's parks were named after the Soviet writer Maxim Gorky. Lozova was no exception: the park bore the name of the stormy petrel of the revolution until 1972, when the town leadership decided to rename it in honour of the 50th anniversary of the USSR. But the simple name dear to everyone took root - Druzhba, "Friendship" - and it has survived to our day.

The park became the townspeople's green friend, and under the cover of the trees the residents strolled, met, held picnics, mass festivities, competitions and exhibitions.

 

In a picturesque dell on the bank of the pond a beach with parasols was equipped - a popular place of rest at weekends. With the appearance of newly built residential districts the people moved to a new, well-appointed park, and Druzhba was gradually forgotten. The destructive 1990s brought the green oasis damage and desolation. The pavilions, cafes and kiosks were destroyed, trees were sawn down, cattle were pastured in the glades.

 

The Druzhba arboretum. The ruins of the summer cinema

In 2000 the green corner was given the status of an arboretum, with the aim of preserving biodiversity. An arboretum is intended for the cultivation of woody plants and for public recreation, and it is part of the nature reserve fund of the Kharkiv region. This green attire, covering 51.5 hectares, is made up of 40 thousand shrubs and 10 thousand trees of 62 species. Elm, oak, birch, elder, apricot, willow, pear, mulberry, chestnut, lime, hawthorn, walnut, maple, poplar and spruce make up the plant collection of Druzhba.

 

There are few people in the arboretum; the silence is broken by the twittering of birds and by the wind roaming in the crowns. From the central glade the avenues radiate outwards, and along them stroll parents with little ones and elderly couples. The phytoncides given off by the trees have bactericidal and healing properties.

The pond in the little gully receives too little water to feed it and is becoming overgrown with reeds.

 

Birds nest by the water, and fishermen gather in expectation of a catch. 

Schoolchildren, the employees of local enterprises and the public of Lozova take part in the fate of the park, trying to preserve the town's little green pearl. 

Coordinates: 48°52'34"N 36°19'7"E