2016

A special day in Riga centre of Psychiatry and Adiction Medicine

In spring, a number of Forest Days events take place in different places of Latvia, inviting anyone interested to head to the forest, to explore it, take care of it, and do some clean-up works. Planting of greenery, to bring a feeling of forest to the city has long been one of the key tasks of the Forest Days. On 26 May, staff members of JSC "Latvia's State Forests" (LVM) participated in a special Forest Day in Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, where a Christmas Garden was created for better and more enjoyable recovery of patients, while their relatives and residents of Sarkandaugava neighbourhood will have an opportunity to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of clean and orderly environment and nature.

"We are happy for the opportunity to bring oxygen to the urban environment, a place where it is most needed. This year, in the state forests of Latvia we have already planted more than 20 million new, strong trees grown in Latvia. We hope that the Christmas Garden will grow well and be a special place for all visitors of the medical centre," says Tomass Kotovičs, Head of LVM Communications Department.

  Open gallery 

Nearly 200 spirea and stephanandra decorative shrubs grown in Latvia were planted during the Forest Day, and with time larches, mountain ashes and a fast-growing walnut tree will add a mood of forest to the garden. It is planned to supplement the garden with educational and environmental information for visitors.

The Christmas Garden will be located on the right-hand side of the entrance to the territory. The garden project aims at creating a number of outdoor corners for patients - "rooms" with a special surfacing, outdoor games and movement development tools. Every item in the garden has been carefully selected for the garden to become a part of the medical treatment process. The garden will give the patients an opportunity to do exercises for faster recovery of body coordination, to create psychological comfort, a feeling of safety, security and cosiness, thus promoting quicker recovery.

The garden of Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine has a history of nearly 300 years. After the Great Northern War, with Riga coming under the jurisdiction of the Russian Empire, Tsar Peter I chose the current territory of Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine (previously called Aleksandra Augstumi, or the Alexander's Heights), for his summer residence. He started to implement this plan with the creation of the park called Otrais ķeizardārzs. However, when Peter I soon died, the garden with symmetrical lines and luxurious image of a Versailles-style garden was forgotten for 100 years and gradually overgrown. In 1820, another Russian Czar - Alexander, presented it to Riga municipality for construction of an institution for moving the weak-minded away from the Citadele Prison. A large part of the garden was ploughed and changed for the needs of the institution, preserving the ancient ponds, oak trees and herbs.

The concept of the Solstice Garden is being implemented step by step, looking for the needed financing in fund projects and with the support of patrons. Project author - landscape architect Ilze Rukšāne. The planned labyrinth layout will serve as an important element for coordination of movements, and the barefoot trail will give tactile sensation. The environmental therapy garden projects have also been developed for Riga Centre of Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine, outpatient centres "Pārdaugava" in Āgensklans, and "Veldre" - in Jugla.