A new tradition was established in the Shahivska rural hromada – the first “Flower of Donbas” Festival, dedicated to the preservation of fern leaf peonies, was held in the botanical reserve of local value Hektova Balka. Paeonia tenuifolia is included in the Red Book.

While preparing for the festival, the hromada set the territory adjacent to the House of Nature and observation deck in order, carried out minor renovation of the facility and restored the greenery, says Ludmyla Omelchenko, secretary of the Shakhove village council.

The festival started with a bike ride – members of the “Dobro-velo” organisation drove from the city of Dobropillya to the village of Nykanorivka and Hektova Balka.

According to Maksym Tkach, decentralisation adviser of the Donetsk Local Government Development Centre, established with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, the “Flower of Donbas” Festival is a positive example of how the Shakhivska rural AH works on the formation of traditions, social cohesion and identity.

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