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Registered non-profit association (Biedrība) · Reg. No. 40008113362 · Republic of Latvia

+371 25499611|info@lestenegreen.online

Emblem of Lestenes Pagasta Lauku Un Dabas Draugu Biedrība "Zaļais Rūķis"Zaļais RūķisLestenes Pagasta Lauku Un Dabas Draugu Biedrība

Programs & activities

Four continuing programmes, delivered non-commercially with volunteers and rural partners.

Every programme below is approved by the assembly of members, funded by voluntary contributions and public grants, and offered free of charge to participants.

  1. Programme 01

    Local Ecosystem Restoration & Wildlife Protection

    Restoring natural habitats, planting native trees, and maintaining ecological trails across regional areas.

    We survey degraded meadows, ditch banks, forest edges and small wetlands in the Lestene district and surrounding parishes, then agree a restoration plan with the landowners and municipal environmental officers.

    Field teams remove invasive growth, re-establish native species such as oak, linden, rowan and alder, install nesting boxes and bat shelters, and mark ecological trails so that visitors can enjoy the area without trampling sensitive ground.

    What this includes

    • Native tree and shrub planting seasons in spring and autumn
    • Nesting box and pollinator habitat installation
    • Maintenance and safe marking of ecological walking trails
    • Seasonal species observation notes shared with local schools
  2. Programme 02

    Community Eco-Workshops & Environmental Literacy

    Conducting interactive educational seminars on waste management, renewable energy basics, and sustainable living.

    Our workshops are free of charge and open to residents of any age. Sessions are practical: participants sort real household waste streams, calculate the energy use of their own homes, and build simple compost and rainwater systems.

    For schools we deliver outdoor lessons that connect the curriculum to the landscape outside the classroom — soil, water, forest succession, and the species that depend on them.

    What this includes

    • Household waste sorting and composting clinics
    • Introductory sessions on solar, biomass and energy efficiency
    • Outdoor classroom days for rural schools and youth groups
    • Printed, non-commercial eco-literacy materials in Latvian
  3. Programme 03

    Rural Heritage & Sustainable Land Management

    Promoting traditional, eco-friendly farming practices and supporting green rural development initiatives.

    Rural Latvia holds centuries of low-impact land knowledge — crop rotation, hay meadow management, hedgerows, orchard grafting and seed saving. We document these practices with older residents and pass them on through demonstration days.

    We also advise smallholders on reducing chemical inputs, protecting field margins for pollinators, and developing modest green tourism offers that keep income in the community without pressuring the landscape.

    What this includes

    • Demonstration days on hay meadow and orchard care
    • Heritage seed and grafting exchange between households
    • Guidance on pollinator-friendly field margins
    • Support for small-scale, low-impact green tourism routes
  4. Programme 04

    Civic Volunteer Clean-Up & Tree Planting Drives

    Mobilizing volunteers for national forest clean-ups, park restoration, and biodiversity protection projects.

    Each year we join national environmental action days and organise our own clean-ups of forest roads, riverbanks, bus stops and abandoned dumping spots. Collected waste is sorted and handed to licensed operators.

    Volunteers receive briefing, safety equipment and refreshments. No participation fee is ever charged and no commercial sponsorship is placed on volunteer materials.

    What this includes

    • Spring and autumn forest and riverbank clean-up days
    • Park and public green space restoration work
    • Community tree planting drives with municipal permission
    • Volunteer safety briefings and equipment provision

Join a programme as a volunteer

Members, students and visiting volunteers are welcome at every activity. Write to us with the programme you are interested in and we will send the next dates, the meeting point and what to bring.

Register your interest
Photo placeholderReserved for photographs taken during our clean-up and planting drives.