{"id":2085,"date":"2026-05-07T10:07:47","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T07:07:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turaida-muzejs.lv\/en\/?p=2085"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:07:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T07:07:48","slug":"open-air-exhibition-natures-pearls-in-turaida-forest-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turaida-muzejs.lv\/en\/blog\/2026\/05\/07\/open-air-exhibition-natures-pearls-in-turaida-forest-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Open-air exhibition \u201cNature\u2019s Pearls\u201d in Turaida Forest Park"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Turaida Forest Park has been created as a place where parents and children can find inspiration to explore nature, and where everyone can enjoy the refreshing beauty of the natural environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accessibility:<\/strong> The forest park trails are covered with gravel and are accessible in all seasons. They are intended for pedestrians and can also be used with strollers. People in wheelchairs will need assistance from a companion. The forest park offers something interesting for visitors of all ages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trail length:<\/strong> 1.3 km, difficulty level: easy
 Distance from the Visitor Center to Turaida Forest Park: 450 m<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Duration:<\/strong> 1 hour
 For a leisurely walk in Turaida Forest Park, it is recommended to allow at least 1 hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Description<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turaida Forest Park covers 6.1 hectares of the total area of the Turaida Museum Reserve. It is a natural space with a pronounced landscape, featuring eight historical pond sites, a small river ravine, and natural tree growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three particularly notable trees stand out in the landscape\u2014an oak, a wild apple tree, and a pine\u2014each meeting the criteria of a protected \u201cheritage tree.\u201d Old deciduous trees provide suitable habitats for various insects, including the specially protected hermit beetle (Osmoderma barnabita).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cNature\u2019s Pearls\u201d exhibition consists of several parts:<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Why create \u201cinsect hotels\u201d?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Insect diversity is rapidly declining worldwide. Most plants would not be able to successfully produce seeds and fruits without the help of these small workers. Pollinators are responsible for pollinating at least 70% of crop species. In Latvia, around 6,000 insect species ensure plant pollination. The main ones are bees, butterflies, flies, and beetles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To support biodiversity and help these hardworking assistants, \u201cinsect hotels\u201d are being created more and more<\/a> often. In Turaida Forest Park, very simple insect hotels have been set up\u2014stacks of firewood. However, there is also a special \u201cluxury hotel\u201d built using materials recommended by insect researchers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wild apple tree \u2013 a garden escapee or a rare native species of Latvia?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although in Latvia we often call all apple trees with sour fruits \u201cwild apple trees,\u201d the true wild apple tree, or otherwise known as crab apple tree in its \u201cpure form\u201d is almost no longer found here. Over the centuries, it has hybridized with cultivated apple trees, retaining only some of its characteristic features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n