This Christmas is already the tenth time that the country's residents can decorate their homes while preserving nature, saving money, and at the same time - not giving up the wonderful Christmas tree smell and greenery typical of winter holidays. The beautiful tradition of giving spruce branches to the residents, started by Šiauliai foresters in 2006, is actively continued by all the country's forest authorities.
This year, the traditional anniversary campaign "Bring Christmas to your home" organized by the General Forestry Office, the Ministry of the Environment and all 42 forest offices will take place on December 20. from 13 p.m. During it, foresters plan to distribute more than 100 thousand spruce branches in more than a hundred places throughout Lithuania. More detailed information about the locations of the campaign is published on the website of the General Forest Office www.gmu.lt, and can also be provided by the nearest forest office.
"This action is a great way to protect nature: the spruce branches distributed by foresters come from logging sites, where mature trees are pruned and felled in the long-term plan. In other words, we do not additionally cut down or damage a single tree, but on the contrary, we use natural resources without the slightest waste", says the general forest manager Rimantas Prūsaitis. He observes that when people can get a free Christmas tree branch, they are much less tempted to take risks and illegally cut Christmas trees in the forest.
According to foresters, more and more people are becoming aware and caring about the environment in which we live. "Lithuanians have loved forests for a long time, so now, when ecological problems are becoming particularly relevant, more and more people are refusing coffin trees or artificial ones, which harm the environment even more than cutting down a tree. In addition, you can create inventive bouquets and artistic compositions from fir branches, which are easy to apply in both small and large spaces. Even in the central squares of cities, we can increasingly see Christmas trees made from fir or pine branches", says the general forest official.
According to him, sharing fir branches is also an act of strengthening friendship with one's community. "By donating fir branches, we want to contribute to people's joy when meeting St. Christmas. The very principle of giving inspires people to do good deeds, lifts the spirits of both the givers and the recipients. Of course, it also allows you to save money", - thinks R. Prūsaitis.
This year, the foresters will share the light and warmth of their hearts not only by handing out fir branches, but also by carrying out another initiative that has been running for the second year: the schoolchildren of the young friends of the forest groups under their tutelage are already preparing holiday compositions that they will give to the lonely senior citizens of the country.
"Last year we gave Christmas to children's orphanages, this year we will visit elderly orphanages and nursing hospitals with the young forest children and their Christmas compositions. We hope that this initiative of ours will become a long-lasting tradition, helping us all to develop sensitivity and concern for the members of society who are close to us and need our attention and care", said the General Forestry Officer.
And in order for the spruce branch and the composition made from it to delight all the way to the Three Kings, the foresters advise as soon as you bring it home or receive it as a gift, immediately dip it in a vase with water and do not forget to add water from time to time.
December 20, 13:00 p.m. fir branches will be distributed:
Vilnius city in the town hall square
at the Vilnius Forestry Office (Vilniaus St. 22, Mickūnai Township, Vilnius District)
Dūkštos forestry (Adomčiškiu village, Dūkštos, Vilnius district)
Kalveliai forestry (Užtilčiai village, Kalveliai, Vilnius district)
Lavoriškės forestry (Kužėliškės village, Lavoriškės, Vilnius district)
Mickūnai Forestry (Mickūnai township, Vilnius district)
Migūnai forestry (Rakonii village, Vilnius district)
In Paežeris Forestry (Karvio village, Vilnius district)
Paneriai Forestry (Eišiškių pl. 235, Vilnius)
Parudaminas forestry district (Karužiškių village, Vilnius district)
Taurau forestry (Uosininku village, Vilnius district)
Verkių girininkija (Gulbinų st. 31, Vilnius)
Arboretum (Akmenytė village, Vilnius district)
