Description
From the viewpoint of cultural value and landscape architecture Pruhonice Park with almost 50 hectares of garden architecture from 19th century is a global rarity. The unique harmony of cultural and natural values of the park landscape in Botič creek valley is based on the lifelong work of one developer - count Ernst Emanuel von Silva-Tarouca. The park hosts major collection of plants, and apart from aesthetic aspect there is also a considerable scientific value. Together with the original domestic woods there are numerous foreign plants – total 1,500 woody and 600 perennials. The project aims to preserve Czech natural heritage by renovation of Castle Alpin Rock Garden – major phenomenon in Pruhonice Park. It is a significant composition element located on the slopes over the Chateau pond and important plant collection. Unfortunately, the Alpine Rock Garden is currently not open to the public since the original collections of alpine and perennial plants are in poor condition, and some species are missing completely. The "Princess’s rose garden” on the upper terrace is also extinct. Renovation of the Alpine Garden includes re-introducing the original alpine and perennial species on the basis of archived documents, renewal of the “Princess’s rose garden” with both original and contemporary assortment of roses, renewal of the original spring and Pruhonice Chateau vista. Besides the renovation of Alpine Garden the project will introduce educational programme linked to the Alpine Garden. Thanks to the project new separate tour for visitors will be created. Long-term partner The Arctic university of Norway from Tromso, Norway which manages its own Arctic-alpine Botanic Garden will provide consultations in the field of plant assortments, genetic fund collection, educational system and study trips. At the end of the project (April 2017) an opening ceremony of a new park tour comprising the renovated Alpine Garden will take place.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was the renewal of the Castle Alpine Rock garden, an important compositional element of the Průhonice park and a significant collection of plants. This part of the park was not accessible for visitors; the original collections of alpine and perennial plants were in poor condition, some of them completely missing including the "Princess Rosary". Project´s cultural and historical contribution was achieved. The historical part of the Průhonice park was restored and made accessible to the public by creating a separate visitor circuit with a new view of Průhonice Chateau. This part of the park is located near the main entrance to Průhonice Park and is therefore very popular. The project benefits not only socially but also scientifically, because the headquarters of the applicant of the Botanical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic is located in the Průhonice Chateau, so the new premises of the the Castle Alpin Rock garden can be used for other research projects. The new information system and educational program is beneficial for both the lay and professional public. It provides information about Castle Alpin Rock garden, its microclimatic conditions and informs about different plant species and their historical aspects or introduction in relation to climatic conditions. Information about planting and introduction can also inspire laypersons to make their own experiments. Experts can get more detailed information for their further research. The output of the project was defined as "renewed Castle Alpin Rock garden". The fulfillment of this output was defined by 3 indicators: "realization of the proposed field, construction and vegetation adjustments", "building an information system (educational program)" and "creation of a visitor route". All these indicators were fulfilled.
Summary of bilateral results
The partner of the project was the Arctic-Alpine Botanic Garden of the Arctic university of Norway in Tromsø. The partner was involved in the preparation of the construction documentation and was also involved in the key activity "Renewal of Castle Alpine Rock garden". In this activity, cooperation focused on defining the assortments used for the restoration of the garden and subsequent evaluation of the planting, creation of the gene pool and cooperation in the creation of the information system (educational program). The cooperation took place in the form of 5 visits of the Norwegian partner in the Czech Republic and 1 visit by the project promoter in Norway, followed by consultations primarily through electronic communication. The visits to the Czech Republic and Norway focused on consultations on the planned planting of alpine assortments, exchange of assortments and their application in the restoration of the Alpine Rock garden with regard to the location of the plantations according to the micro climatic conditions, the first evaluation of the plantations, cooperation in building the gene pool collection, exchange of experience and best practice in the operation of the information system in the Tromso botanical garden. The cooperation shall continue in evaluating the planting of individual assortments with a longer time span, incl. collaboration in new developments and alpine maintenance. Within the framework of the bilateral fund on programme level, one initiative was implemented within which 2 persons of the project promoter visited Norway.