Trees are essential for our everyday life and very important starting points in outdoor
education and in environmental education. An observation model for trees as individuals
and use them as individual partners in the process of education: as well as in plant
conservation, connected to GSPC and ESPC targets. The traditional plant education
starts with identifying typical features of the species, morphological, taxonomical
characteristics. Examination of the botanical knowledge elements through online questionnaires
show a significant decrease in school system and increase only in schools with school
garden or forest school programs where children and teachers are in continuous relationship
with plants. The new „Name the tree, your new friend!” programmes an alternative program
for seeing the world from the tree’s point of view and be sensitive for the individual
tree and its environment. The new methodology is based on the tree individual and
the history or art of the species. We collect physical and biological data on the
basis of the newest research results of plant species: how you hear the tree’s sounds,
what is the most important time period of the tree and during the education programme
you can learn the sounds, colours, movements, invisible processes and the history
(tail) of the tree individual. The stories of the individual trees with certain names
will be documented through art activities and every tree will have name and a story
(a book about the individual). This programme will be introduced in Erdőtelek Arboretum
and in the Botanical Garden of Eger next year but the plant knowledge elements have
been identified for the education programmes on the basis of research data.
