Over 36,000 Euros Allocated for Autumn Tree Planting: 13 Communities Join the Movement to Plant the Future

In the autumn grant round, funding was provided to non-profits, schools, municipalities, and institutions that decided to plant trees in locations where they once grew naturally but have disappeared due to human activity. The Planting the Future program supported 13 local communities with over 36,000 euros, enabling the planting of new orchards, windbreaks, and tree alleys. A detailed map of the supported plantings can be found at www.sadimebuducnost.sk. Additionally, starting December 1, you can submit your own tree-planting ideas in the next open grant round.

“The Planting the Future program was created to give local communities and volunteers across Slovakia the opportunity to bring their ideas to life and gradually reintroduce trees into landscapes where they naturally belong. This is one of the simplest and most accessible tools to help the country adapt to climate change,” explains Martina Hromadová, Program Manager of Planting the Future. This autumn alone, the program facilitated the planting of over 670 trees, bringing the total to more than 4,000 new additions to the landscape.

This year’s recipients included civic associations, municipal representatives, schools, and even the Psychiatric Hospital in Kremnica. “These projects showcase the passion of individuals whose enthusiasm is often contagious, mobilizing entire communities for a good cause. These trees will have an indispensable impact and meaning in the years to come,” adds Hromadová.

Restoring Orchards, Reviving Traditions, and Solving Problems

Planting began in early October, supported by favorable weather this autumn. “Project goals vary—some volunteers plant trees for their practical benefits, schools use them for educational purposes and to improve their surroundings for the students, and others aim to preserve traditions that are gradually disappearing or to reintroduce native tree species into historical orchards. What unites them all is the legacy they wish to leave for future generations,” Hromadová elaborates.

The Bee-Keeping Open-Air Museum at the Slovak Agricultural Museum in Nitra was originally designed as an educational trail featuring 14 beehives from across Slovakia, built in the 19th and 20th centuries. The area included labeled trees and information boards about bees, beekeeping, and plants suitable for pollinators. However, in recent years, the museum has fallen into disrepair. Volunteers have begun revitalizing the area, including planting 14 mature trees of various species suitable for bees and pollinators.

“The historic orchard at the Botanical Garden in Banská Štiavnica has aged, and a thorough review revealed that some trees were in poor health. We decided to restore its beauty and utility. The garden was originally used for hands-on training during professional practice, but little attention was given to pomology in recent years. Recently, we’ve partnered with a group that conducts pruning workshops, tree propagation, and species identification in the orchard,” says Ivana Šimková, a teacher at the Forestry Vocational School in Banská Štiavnica, who implemented the orchard restoration project. The project involved planting 50 native trees and engaging nearly 200 volunteers.

In contrast, a new orchard was created on the grounds of the Psychiatric Hospital of Professor Matulay in Kremnica. “Since we developed a new garden, we wanted to add a small orchard with native fruit trees to enhance the space between the garden and the natural amphitheater. The area was previously just a mowed field with no purpose. The orchard will fill this space and also serve as a therapeutic resource for patients,” explains Peter Imrich, project organizer in Kremnica.

New trees were also planted in Bošáca, where 35 native fruit trees were added. The largest planting took place in Dlhá nad Váhom, where the local community of volunteers completed the second phase of a windbreak with nearly 200 trees, functionally separating the residential area of the village from agriculturally used land. The city of Partizánske also participated in the plantings, as did the city of Levice, which planted a linden tree alley along the Podlužianka stream in the center, and students from Babín participated as well. In Brhlovce, residents used trees to create natural protection for the local cemetery, while an active group of volunteers from the Zelená Hliadka Pezinok civic association planted trees in two locations under the Carpathians. The planting season concluded with projects in the villages of Šalgočka and Bánov, as well as by students at the Vocational School in Hnúšťa.

“The initiative relies on support from the general partner GLS General Logistics Systems Slovakia s.r.o., along with contributions from main partners Kaufland Slovakia, Slovnaft a.s., Nespresso, L’Oréal, and the Green Print project. We extend our gratitude and best wishes to the active citizens who implement these planting projects and continue to care for the trees,” concludes Peter Medveď, Director of the Ekopolis Foundation.

To date, the program has supported the planting of over 4,000 trees in more than 50 locations across Slovakia, engaging thousands of volunteers. This initiative aims to contribute to the European Commission’s goal of planting at least 3 billion trees in the EU by the end of 2030.

Media Contact: Martina Hromadová, PR Manager, Ekopolis Foundation, hromadova@ekopolis.sk, +421 908 371 289

About the Planting the Future Program:

Planting the Future engages people in planning, planting, and caring for trees, which symbolize the bond between people and nature. The program’s goal is to bring trees back to urban and rural areas where they are most needed, particularly where green infrastructure is lacking or disrupted. A vital part of the initiative is supporting local communities, including active municipalities, schools, and civic associations. The program also includes educational, informational, and demonstration activities to raise awareness about the importance of trees in the landscape.

For more information, visit www.sadimebuducnost.sk or www.ekopolis.sk.

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