Nature trail or lecture – explore the Nature Week programme, 28 August to 7 September!
Nature Forum, held in Espoo on 5 September, will be extended to Nature Week from 28 August to 7 September. Espoo invites everyone to connect more closely with nature during the theme week. The extensive event programme is sure to offer something for everyone, and you can even host your own event.
In the rhythm of nature
Research shows that spending time in nature benefits people by positively affecting both physical and mental health. During Nature Week, we also highlight how spending time in nature strengthens our connection to it. The Nature Week programme includes a rich selection of guided and self-guided ways to experience nature.
Villa Elfvik’s excursions offer something for everyone. On the Biodiversity & Evolutionary History audio trail, you can travel back in time to the origins of familiar species. On Sunday, 31 August, the Kylämaiseman historia [History of the village landscape] excursion takes you back into the past of the Elfvik region. During the bat trip on Saturday, 30 August, you can spot bats as dusk falls. In addition to Villa Elfvik, you can spend an interesting day hiking on the Kiertokulku [Cycle] nature trail along the Espoonjoki river.
The Puutarhafest outdoor event in Espoo City Garden on 30 August will offer a slightly more lively ambiance. Join the fun and enjoy Finnish music and time together in the picturesque surroundings of the garden. The evening will culminate with Iikka Kivi’s stand-up performance. The event is free of charge.
You can seek out independent experiences, for example, at the Alusta pavilion on the Otaniemi campus. Created by Aalto University and Suomi/Koivisto architects, the pavilion is a site-specific artwork that examines how nature and culture intertwine. Access a comprehensive list of nature sites in Espoo here, broken down by city district. Perhaps you will spend the Sleep outdoors night on Saturday, 30 August, at one of these sites?
For those hungry for action
If you’d like to play a more active role during Nature Week rather than being just a spectator, this section is for you.
For example, Pentala Archipelago Museum offers activities for the whole family, including self-guided adventure orienteering to explore marine nature and archipelago life. More adventures await on Villa Elfvik’s A Bug or a Spider? bug trip on Sunday, 31 August, and in the Forest of Adventures on Sunday, 7 September.
You can take part in voluntary activities, for example, at Syke’s 30th anniversary event on Thursday, 4 September, when volunteers will clean the water in Laajalahti by sinking leafy treetops into the ditches. During the Baltic Sea Day on 28 August, Villa Elfvik will host a volunteer event to remove an invasive species of dogwood.
In addition, you can join a mushroom-picking trip in Nuuksio on Sunday, 7 September, or take part in outdoor exercises held around Espoo on Espoo Day, 29 August.
Nature information
Nature Week offers a wealth of learning possibilities for both experts and those with a thirst for knowledge. For example, on Thursday, 4 September, you can explore the interesting relationship between nature and urban planning at two events: the morning coffee event organised by Ramboll and the urban nature trip guided by Forum Virium Helsinki. In turn, sustainable energy solutions supporting biodiversity will be showcased on AurinkoLab’s seminar day in Otsolahti on Thursday, 28 August, and at Tapion Metsäntuntijat’s webinar on Tuesday, 2 September.
Host your own event
Remember: anyone can host a Nature Week event! If you have an idea for an event or activity that could enhance your community’s relationship with nature, you can submit it for the Nature Week programme here(external link, opens in a new window).
The Nature Week programme is constantly updated. View the current list of events here (in Finnish).
