To mark Earth Day, the Virovitica-Podravina County and the Public Institution for the Management of Protected Natural Areas and the Ecological Network of VPŽ symbolically celebrated the occasion by planting new seedlings at the Drava Story Visitor Centre. As part of this nature conservation initiative, Virovitica-Podravina County Prefect Igor Andrović and the director of the Public Institution, Tatjana Arnold Sabo, jointly planted a small-leaved linden tree and new strawberry plants.

"Back in 2012, we had to remove a linden tree from our park due to age and disease. Now, nearly on the same spot and in honor of Earth Day, we decided to plant a new linden tree with the county prefect. He also joined us in planting strawberries, as the staff of the Institution are renewing our permanent strawberry beds originally planted five years ago. That’s why we ordered new seedlings. Visitors love walking through the park, picking strawberries or currants, and enjoying time with our other residents—turtles, storks, birds of prey, and fish. This was the perfect opportunity for a joint planting effort,” said director Tatjana Arnold Sabo.

County Prefect Igor Andrović emphasized the importance of such initiatives, which may be small but represent an important step toward environmental preservation and long-term connection between nature and the community.

"Our Drava Story Visitor Centre offers a wealth of activities to visitors, constantly enriched and modernized by the dedicated staff. More importantly, they invest a great deal of time and effort every day to protect this nature and its wildlife. It’s clear they love what they do, and they do it with passion and dedication. The results speak for themselves—the Centre is fully booked in terms of accommodation. Today’s planting of the linden tree and strawberries is a small gesture, symbolically marking Earth Day, to show appreciation for our Public Institution, which we proudly support and follow," said Prefect Andrović.

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting the environment and natural resources for future generations. This year's theme is “Our Planet, Our Power,” highlighting a global call to triple the production of clean energy by 2030.
(www.vpz.hr, Photo: Kristijan Toplak)