Happy Birthday, Winter Garden!

On November 30 – on the last Autumn day – the Winter Garden of Brest State A.S. Pushkin University celebrated its second Birthday. On that day guests were able to visit free of charge this young, but already well-known both in Brest and beyond Department of Inter-faculty Center for Ecology and Natural History. Moreover, this present was far from being the only one made: the guests, who were more than 400 in number, could admire real tropical butterflies and new collection of minerals.

However, the real zest of the Winter Garden's Birthday was the ecological action "Around the World in 1 hour" organized by the volunteering students from the Faculties of Biology and Geography. The visitors became participants of the mind quiz and took a one-hour trip around a see bottom, jungles, sultry desert and even a contaminated area. Everywhere they were welcomed with tricky questions from the natives (the Papuans, Beduins, Greeks) the roles of which were performed by the students wearing exotic costumes.

Great interest was evoked by the stops devoted to flora and fauna of Belarus. The participants of the action showed their knowledge in the sphere of zoology and botany remembering the names of plants and animals recorded in the Red Book of the Republic of Belarus.

Yet still, this was not the end. At the end of the "travelling" the participants took a test on current problems of environmental protection. Besides students, the lecturers and even representatives of the academic authorities of the University decided to try themselves and to test their knowledge in the sphere of ecology.

The winners of the quiz received magnificent prizes - exotic plants in pots. They also were awarded with letters of commendation and commemorative badges. Presenting the prizes, the Head of the Center Alexander P. Kolbas expressed gratitude to the staff for the work done and the guests for their active participation in the event. Alexander P. Kolbas noted with pleasure that the prizes were given to the people having both knowledge and love for nature.

The Rector of the University Mechyslau E. Chasnouski congratulated the Winter Garden on the Birthday as well, having wished further flourishing to this young nature nook and its personnel.

No visitor was left indifferent to this festive occasion. And each of them put down their wishes and shared impressions on the "Tree of wishes", which by the end of the day was fully covered with "dense foliage".

Vivat, Winter Garden!

Inter-faculty Center for Ecology and Natural History