Continuing its work to improve and restore free recreation sites, AS “Latvijas valsts meži” (LVM) has built a new viewing platform in Oleru Bog in the LVM Rietumvidzeme region. Construction of the viewing platform took a total of 6 months. At the same time, restoration work was carried out on several sections of the 1 km long bog boardwalk, replacing damaged structures with new ones.

Kaspars Judzis, LVM recreation infrastructure management specialist, explains:

“Like all our viewing platforms, this one is built from timber and specially treated to last longer, using an impregnation method to protect it against damage caused by moisture, mould and wood pests.

A total of 44 m³ of timber was used to build the platform. The platform is quite large, so bringing the building materials to the installation site was no simple matter. A quad bike was used to transport materials across the bog, as was a specially built wheeled pallet that the builders moved themselves.

The work was hampered at first by changeable weather and by seasonal restrictions in bog areas. Later, however, once a steady frost set in, the work progressed swiftly.”

The 6 metre high viewing platform offers a view over the transitional bog landscape within the North Vidzeme Biosphere Reserve – cranberries and marsh orchids can be seen along the edges of the platform, while more patient visitors may also spot one of the birds living nearby.

The viewing platform is located not far from Oleru Manor, which was once also known as a hunters' and foresters' lodge.

More than 300 free recreation sites created and managed by LVM are freely available to everyone in Latvia's state forests – viewing towers and platforms, cycling trails, equipped campfire sites, shelters, boardwalks, and recreation sites by rivers and lakes.