Schoolchildren are testing a perennial lawn made up of steppe plants in the centre of Mykolaiv

A small patch of mixed grasses has appeared on 3rd Slobidska Street in Mykolaiv, created by schoolchildren together with ecologists. Steppe plants, cornflowers and phacelia grow there. The project’s organisers want to find out which species best withstand the heat, lack of watering and urban conditions.

Inna Tymchenko, a candidate of technical sciences and deputy head of the Mykolaiv branch of the National Ecological Centre of Ukraine, spoke about this in a comment to NikVesti.

The project is being carried out by members of the «Young Ecologists» club at the Mykolaiv Regional Ecology and Natural History Centre. The idea arose following research into the adaptation of urban green spaces to climate change, she explained.

Previously, pupils had been studying methods of watering young trees and installing special rainwater collection bags in this area. Now they are experimenting with a perennial mixed-grass meadow.

To this end, the plot was divided into several zones and various plants were planted. Some of the steppe species were transplanted from natural habitats in the Mykolaiv region, whilst other seeds were purchased specifically for the experiment.

«We wanted to see which species would take root best. We really wanted them to be our own steppe plants. We also planted phacelia — it’s beneficial for the soil, helps to loosen it and suppresses unwanted weeds. The cornflowers have already bloomed,» said Inna Tymchenko.

What makes this experiment unique is that the plot is situated next to the road on 3rd Slobidska Street. There is no constant access to water here, so the plants are effectively growing in the same conditions as most urban green spaces, explained Inna Tymchenko.

«There’s quite heavy traffic there. There isn’t much access to water there either. We don’t plan to water the plants just yet, but we’ll also be keeping an eye on whether these species need a little watering,» she explained.

The schoolchildren will observe how different species cope with the summer heat and drought, and whether such plantings could serve as an alternative to traditional lawns.

«We’re currently observing how they’ll behave in the heat, whether they’ll dry out, and which species are affected. This will help us understand how best to introduce perennial lawns here,» she explained.

The idea of mixed-grass lawns is not new in Europe. In many cities, some of the conventional lawns are being replaced by so-called urban meadows — areas where the grass is mown much less frequently or not at all. Such areas help to maintain biodiversity, are more resilient to drought and provide a habitat for bees, butterflies and other insects.

Mykolaiv’s mayor, Oleksandr Sienkevych, spoke about this experience during the latest staff meeting following a working visit to the French city of Nancy.

«We noticed there that the grass isn’t mown at all. Sometimes the grass is as tall as a person. This perennial feather grass grows there. We asked, «What’s going on here?» And they said it’s simply a new policy in the European Union — supporting biodiversity. Various dragonflies, beetles and spiders live in this grass. To be honest, it doesn’t look great. It looks untidy,» said Oleksandr Sienkevych.

According to the mayor, he saw a similar approach in Varna, Bulgaria. There, along the roads, they only mow a narrow strip next to the carriageway, whilst the rest of the area is left in its natural state, he said.

«Over there, a person could actually hide in that grass,» he added.

At the same time, Mykolaiv has no plans to completely abandon the maintenance of green spaces.

«That is why I must say that we must continue to strike a balance between biodiversity and cleanliness in the city,» noted Oleksandr Sienkevych.

As a reminder, in Mykolaiv, workers from the «Mykolaiv Parks» municipal enterprise continue to mow the grass in the midst of the heatwave. Environmentalists say that because of the exposed soil, trees are losing their ability to absorb nutrients.

Back in July 2024, NikVesti published a video showing municipal workers «mowing» dust in the centre of Mykolaiv in 40-degree heat. Following this, the «Mykolaiv Parks» municipal enterprise responded to the publication. They explained that on Soborna Street, workers were using a trimmer to clear away leaves and mow the grass where it was present.