At the beginning of the 19th century, on the site of the modern park of the Forestry Engineering Academy, an exemplary agricultural farm of the Englishman A. Davidson was located. But soon it was confiscated by the state for non-payment of loan debts. And in 1811, the Forest Institute, which moved from Tsarskoye Selo, was located on this territory. Around the building of the educational institution, a park was formed.
Forestry Academy named after S. M. Kirov
The Forestry Academy, or S. Kirov St. Petersburg State University (Kirov SPBGLTU), is a higher educational institution in St. Petersburg, which was founded by decree of Alexander I in 1803. It trains specialists in the field of forestry, wood chemistry, woodworking, hydrolysis, pulp and paper industry and in the field of forestry. University departments and 6 of its institutes are located in four educational buildings on the territory of the Forestry Park of St. Petersburg, which was established in 1827.
History of the formation of the Park Forestry Academy of St. Petersburg
The park was established in 1827 by decree of Emperor Alexander I. In the same year, a specialist in forest plantation Jensch was invited to the Forestry Institute (now the Forestry Academy).
During the year, from 1827 to 1828, roads were broken in the park, and places for future buildings were organized. At the same time, small islands of pine and spruce were planted.
In 1830, the Park covers an area of 328 hectares. From 1850 to 1862, R.I. Schroeder, and from 1880 - Jurvein, from 1886 - to 1931 - the park was headed by the gardener E.L. Wolf, from 1931 to 1936 - I.A. Akimov, from 1938 to 1942 - V.I. Sukachev, since 1942 Grabovskaya A.A.
By 1862, the Forestry Park was planted with coniferous and deciduous trees (erect ash, lobed birch, red oak, American linden), forest paths and paths were improved.
The park was founded as a training base for the institute, a huge number of tree species grew here. There were also valuable breeds brought by academician V.N. Sukachev from Transbaikalia, Crimea, Altai.
Park during and after the October Revolution
Hard times began for the park during the October Revolution. As a "relic of the imperial past", it was partially destroyed by people. But nature did not spare him.
In 1924, a catastrophic flood occurred in the Leningrad Region with a strong hurricane wind, which inflicted huge damage on the park stands. More than six hundred trees were broken or uprooted.
At that time, there were no burials in the park. In its southwestern part, the Red Guards who died in battles near Gatchina were buried. In honor of them, a memorial made of wood in the shape of a cube was opened at the burial place in 1927.
In 1929, ponds became shallow in the park due to severe drought.
From 1918 to 1920, veterans were buried here Russian Communist Party (Bolsheviks).
And this is not the whole list of events that the park had to endure in the dashing post-revolutionary years. The famous scientist and gardener Egbert Wolf helped him survive them. He did his best to improve the park, describe the species and did his best to preserve the species diversity of unique woody vegetation. He was called the guardian angel of the park.
The history of the park during World War II
The World War II and the blockade of the city became a real disaster for the park. Young spruce, larch and pine trees, as well as all varieties of fir, died. During the war years, 313 forms and species of unique woody vegetation were lost. Out of 250 species of pines and 500 species of cedar, only 3 trees survived.
German enemy forces assumed that the reserve headquarters of the Leningrad Military District was located on the territory of the park, and they mercilessly bombed it. It was badly damaged as a result of airstrikes by an invading army.
Post-war history of the Forestry Academy park
The restoration of the park began in 1957. Initially, paths and paths were reconstructed, 8 thousand trees and about 27 thousand bushes were planted.
A botanical nursery was reconstructed in the park, a greenhouse was created, many small ponds and canals were ennobled.
Along with its restoration, the country's industry was recovering. The park was surrounded by industrial enterprises, which negatively affected its vegetation. Already in the years 60-70, all seedlings and adult trees of European spruce completely died. Each year, the park lost up to three hundred and fifty centuries-old pines, a grove of balsamic fir was lost, and several birch groves were lost.
Park now
The Park of the Forestry Engineering Academy of St. Petersburg is an enchanting forest with real edges where you can relax from the bustle of the city and enjoy the loud singing of birds. People come here to relax or play sports. In the summer months it is very difficult to find free benches in the park, and people arrange gatherings right on the grass.
The park was once located far beyond the city. Now it is surrounded by industrial enterprises and housing estates. Currently, it is a city park of culture and recreation for Leningraders and guests of the city. Here at any time of the year you can enjoy the beauty of nature, admire the species diversity of plants, of which there are more than a thousand. This is a favorite vacation spot for students of St. Petersburg State Technical University. Kirov, young mothers, couples in love, senior citizens, tourists.
There are many ponds in the park: Long, Serdobolsky, Floral, Jordanian and others. Fans of relaxing by the water can escape from the bustle of the city, sitting on the lake.
The park has a huge number of canals through which very beautiful wooden bridges are built. The area of the Forestry Academy's park is currently 65 hectares. Since the mid-90s, it began to be reconstructed, the forged fence around the territory was restored.
Park location
The address of the Forest Technical Academy park: at the intersection of Novorossiyskaya and Bolshoi Sampsonievsky Avenue streets, in the Vyborg district, north of the Lesnaya metro station.
How to get to the Park Forestry Academy, ways:
- get off at the Ploshchad Vuzhstva station and walk for 10-15 minutes along Karbysheva street, the entrance to the Forestry Engineering Academy park will be on the right
- by minibus No. 152, 240a, 175, 223 - to the Kharchenko stop;
- by bus No. 262, 86 to the stop "Serdobolskaya";
- by tram number 20 to the stop "Serdobolskaya";
- by trolleybus No. 6 to the Novorossiyskaya stop, or it is also called Institutsky Prospekt.
Botanical Garden
The Botanical Garden of the Forestry Engineering Academy was founded in 1833, and a greenhouse was built a year later. Every year, students of the Forest Institute planted several thousand seedlings brought from all over Russia and even from Paris. In 1841, a tree nursery was created on the territory, which served to educate students and grow their planting material.
By 1862, the botanical garden contained almost all types of woody plants growing in Russia.
In 1885, about 8 thousand trees and shrubs were planted in the park from the botanical garden. Forest nursery lasted until the outbreak of war.
During the years of World War II, the upper arboretum was very damaged. If in 1935 there were 1,200 species of woody vegetation in it, after the war 800 remained. Restoration of the garden, greenhouse and Forest Nursery began in 1946.
Currently, the botanical garden is divided into indoor and outdoor parts. Its total area is 45 hectares. There are about 1200 species of unique woody vegetation and more than 700 species of tropical and subtropical plants.
Interesting facts from the life of the Park Forestry Academy
Before the start of the Revolution, the Novosiltsevskaya Church was in the park - a small church in the name of Holy Prince Vladimir, built in 1834. She was erected on the money of Ekaterina Novosiltseva in memory of her son who died here in a duel. The duel was on one of the alleys of the park, both duelists died, mortally wound each other. Chernov died on the spot, and Novosiltsev was badly wounded. He was transferred to the nearest inns, in one of which he died. At this place a church was laid.
In the park, on one of the alleys, two large stones stand against each other, these are traces of that miserable duel. They are located at a distance of 25 meters from each other, that is, they marked the places of duelists from which they shot at each other (duelists at that time shot at each other from a distance of 25 steps). This duel made a big splash in the life of Petersburg society. After the funeral, a custom formed: officers before a duel in danger, before sending them to the front, came to the Novosiltsevskaya church to pray, confess, and ask for help.
But the post-revolutionary years were disastrous for the temple. In 1932, he was blown up. The poorhouse, which was with him, was transferred to other shelter institutions in Leningrad. The building was turned into a laboratory for the institute.
During World War II, a bunker was built under the Forestry Academy park that could withstand even atomic bombing. Over the years of the war, he saved the lives of several thousand citizens. Currently, the bunker is flooded, like most of all bomb shelters of war times.
Several stories in the novel “Russian Forest” by Leonid Leonov take place in the park and at the Forest Institute of St. Petersburg.