A violin concert and the planting of new exotic birches and maples at the world's first sap tree park.

The producers of the sparkling birch sap BIRZĪ, SIA Kainaiži, with the support of Smiltene municipality, began creating the world's first sap tree park in 2018 at Kainaiži in Branti parish. Only those tree species that yield edible sap in spring are planted in the park. At present more than 300 birches, walnuts, maples and beeches grow there. The park is open both for scientific purposes, for studying the trees and their sap, and for lectures and guided tours, which take place at the BIRZĪ production site, and it is also simply a well-kept environmental site that is open to the public.

This year we will add Japanese, Dahurica and Maximowicziana birches to the park; they originate in Asia and are especially characteristic of Japan. The Shirasawanum maple likewise comes from Japan. From North America, in turn, the Circinatum maple will be planted in the park.

“It won't even take 30 years before we start getting sap from these trees,” jokes the company's manager, Līvija Labanovska. “The sap tree park is unique not only in Latvia but in the world, because here you can, and will be able to, see in one place the trees from which sap can be obtained for food. We are creating a place that will serve entertainment, knowledge and possibly future innovation in the agroforestry sector. Both scientists and travellers from various countries around the world have already shown an interest in the park. The park has been featured in the magazines National Geography and Conde nast Traveller.”

Volunteers will be able to lend a hand and a spade to the making of this unique project.