An educational entomological micro-reserve appeared in the territory of the Regional Landscape Park. It is a small spot in the forest located on a slope near the Three Lakes. Here, the children from the Feldman Ecopark Children’s Ecology and Nature Study Academy undergo practical training aimed at study of flora and fauna in natural conditions. The young naturalists have educational excursions and watch the life of insects, reptiles and amphibians, small mammals and birds.
“The territory of ‘forest laboratory’ is located far from busy paths of the recreational zone, therefore it is possible to find grass-snakes, hedgehogs, mice and other small animals here. The lake is situated nearby, and this makes it possible for children to watch such its inhabitants from the bank as waterfowl, young fishes, frogs, dragonflies and snails,” the head of Feldman Ecopark’s humanitarian programmes Iryna Yavorska told. “There are several biological objects along the eco-path of the micro-reserve: the nests of small birds, anthills, hives of forest wasps and bees. We specifically installed several artificial homes for hymenoptera. The attraction of these insects, which pollinate over 80 percent of wild plants, is one of the additional important missions of the micro-reserve.”
However, the main mission of the open-air laboratory is educational, the organizers of the projects emphasize. Young naturalists from the special biological circles and other fields of the Children’s Ecology and Nature Study Academy are studying here, as well as children who have a rest in children’s camps of Feldman Ecopark. The excursion-style lessons and practical trainings are carried out on weekends and last for more than an hour.
“Children assisted by skillful teachers obtain profound knowledge in entomology, herpetology, ornithology and other zoological disciplines in natural environment,” Iryna Yavorska told. “They are able to watch the natural interconnections of animals, plants, mushrooms and microorganisms in biocenosis. And above all, they learn to love the native nature.”
