On 25 July, an Open Meadow Day will take place in Ērgļi, where the Latvian Fund for Nature and Ērgļi entrepreneurs Gunārs and Artūrs Vīganti, owners of the “Neganti gardi” brand, will introduce participants to the biodiversity and restoration of natural meadows. The Open Meadow Day will take place at the R. Blaumanis Memorial Museum “Braki” and in the surrounding meadows, which the Vīganti brothers have been managing for 15 years. The event will be useful both for people who would like to restore meadows on their own property and for those who want to explore meadow biodiversity and plants. Participation is free of charge, with prior registration at https://ej.uz/brakupļavas. https://ej.uz/brakupļavas
The “Braki” meadows, an integral part of the cultural landscape around Ērgļi, are special because they have existed as meadows and pastures for more than a hundred years. It is therefore quite possible that Rūdolfs Blaumanis himself once walked through these meadows and drew inspiration from them. These meadows are an excellent example of how, when people manage land in harmony with nature over many decades, one of Latvia’s most biodiverse habitats – the natural meadow – can develop.
The event will begin at the museum with morning coffee at 10.30. From 11.00 to 12.00, Gunārs Vīgants of “Neganti gardi” and Latvian Fund for Nature grassland expert Baiba Strazdiņa will talk about the management of natural meadows in this area. From 12.00 to 13.30, participants will take a walk through the meadows, where they will be able to discover different plants and learn about the meadow restoration methods used here. At 13.30, all visitors are invited to a picnic with “Neganti gardi” burgers, followed by another meadow walk at 14.30 for those who join the event later.
During Open Meadow Days, the Latvian Fund for Nature introduces participants to nature-friendly farmers — landowners and managers who, alongside their agricultural activities, work to conserve and restore natural values. Natural meadows are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems in Latvia, but they now cover only 0,9% of the country’s territory, and their conservation requires targeted management.
Brothers Artūrs and Gunārs Vīgants, founders of the “Neganti gardi” brand, have been connected with rural life in Ērgļi since childhood. After inheriting land from their grandfather, they experimented with snail farming and then growing quinces, but for more than ten years they have been engaged in the production, processing and sale of organic beef. The brothers see agriculture not only as a business, but also as an opportunity to shape and care for the surrounding environment. By using various natural grassland restoration methods, such as spreading seed-rich hay and early grazing, they are helping the landscape regain the diversity of plants and other living organisms characteristic of natural meadows.
The Vīganti brothers have been cooperating with “Braki” in managing the natural meadows for 15 years. Today, the beauty of the meadow plants and the richness of its species are convincing evidence that it is possible to restore and maintain biodiversity while also developing successful and sustainable agriculture.
Participation in the event is free of charge, but prior registration is required by completing the registration form: https://ej.uz/brakupļavas
Event location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZdJbVEWRKKQ5yNQM8
This summer, the Latvian Fund for Nature will invite the public to one more Open Meadow Day, taking place on 8 August in Skrīveri at the farm of meadow manager Jānis Kravalis.