90 spruce trees from the RUSSIA EXPO were planted in the Rostokino Aqueduct Park
On April 20, the "Spruce Alley" Saturday volunteer event (subbotnik) was held in the Rostokino Aqueduct Park in Moscow. Its participants planted spruce trees, which had been decorating the RUSSIA EXPO all winter.
Within the framework of the campaign the coniferous beauties from the unique project "New Year Trees of Russia" found a new home. 90 live blue spruces were placed on the Main Alley of VDNH. 89 of them symbolize the regions of the Russian Federation, and one more spruce symbolizes the Exposition itself. Last December they were decorated for the New Year celebration in accordance with the traditions and culture of all Russian regions. The trees were decorated with garlands, the length of which amounted to 36 kilometers. A total of 360 thousand lights burned on all New Year trees.
"Such a unique project was carried out for the first time. All 89 regions of Russia decorated New Year trees, and the Directorate of the RUSSIA EXPO together with the Federal Agency for Forestry carefully took care of them. Each region decorated the trees putting their souls in it and in accordance with their cultural traditions. And today a new alley is appearing here, which will symbolize the unity of Russia, will remind everyone of our amazing Exposition, which has already been visited by almost 11 million visitors," said Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the ANO «Directorate of the Exhibition of Achievements "Russia"».
The trees were placed at the entrance to the park. Two fir trees symbolizing the RUSSIA EXPO and the capital of Russia were planted in the first group, while the rest were united by federal districts. Each of them has signs with information about how the fir trees were decorated on the Main Alley of the Exposition. Together, the planted trees formed the "Spruce Alley", which will be a legacy and a reminder of the International RUSSIA EXPO as a symbol of commonwealth and unity of all regions of the country.
"This is really a great project. It plays a unifying role and shows the diversity of our regions, their cultural heritage. The project gave many regions an opportunity to see and show themselves. Now these spruces will grow for decades to come in the Rostokino Aqueduct Park," said Vladimir Dmitriev, head of the Department of Science and International Cooperation of Rosleskhoz.
Employees of the Exposition Directorate and VDNH, representatives of the Federal Agency of Forestry, the Prefecture of Moscow's North-Eastern Administrative District and the public movement "Forest Volunteers" took part in the tree-planting subbotnik. Natalia Virtuozova planted the ninetieth spruce tree, which symbolizes the RUSSIA EXPO. And Anastasia Zvyagina, Deputy General Director of the RUSSIA EXPO, planted a spruce of the Belgorod region. "This is a strong region that, despite everything, achieves results and demonstrates accomplishments," she emphasized.
"As we promised at the very beginning of the "New Year Trees of Russia" project, when we opened it together with Ded Morozes from all over the country, not a single tree was damaged. Now this alley will become a legacy of the Exposition and will delight the residents and guests of Moscow. I hope that we will come here with our children and grandchildren," said Anastasia Zvyagina.
The blue spruce trees are a gift to the Exposition from the Federal Agency of Forestry. They came from the Moscow region, where they have been carefully grown for many years. The subbotnik became a part of the large-scale work on improvement of the Rostokino Aqueduct Park territory, within the framework of which the planting of spruces will be re-examined for rooting. In late June - early July it is planned to hold a solemn Opening Ceremony of "Spruce Alley".
