Urban gardens and photoactive paving

Primary School OŠ Ivana Cankarja Trbovlje is one of the oldest schools in the Zasavje region dating back to 1819. The energy-saving renovation of the school building was implemented in 2017 with its surroundings being renovated in the frame of the project Sustainable reconstruction of the school’s exterior with urban gardens and photographic paving.

As part of the project selected under the Zasavje LAG Partnership, urban gardens were set up. The gardens help students learn about cultivating herbs and vegetables and serve as an example of good practice in the Zasavje region where the soil is quite polluted with heavy metals, especially cadmium, due to mining and related heavy industry and energy engineering. Vegetable cultivation is safer in high beams where soil of controlled source is used. The photoactive pavers help reduce the concentration of PM10 particles in the air which is of great importance in light of the fact that the Zasavje region is a so-called degraded environment due to particulate matter in the air. A teaching apiary has also been set up in the school’s vicinity where students learn about beekeeping. New trees have been planted around the school which are used for practical demonstration of tree pruning. The wider community has also been involved, namely by making a leaflet on the importance of local self-sufficiency and high beams and by organising workshops for various vulnerable groups.

PHOTO: Polona Avanzo