Politicians Join Volunteers to Pull Invasive Lupines from Pekanpuisto and Sahavainionpuisto

Volunteers will be out Tuesday in Pekanpuisto in Huikkaa and Sahavainionpuisto in Niemenranta to remove invasive lupines from park meadows. The events are part of a series of four community weed-pulls across Tampere this summer, and local politicians will join the work in Sahavainionpuisto, Tamperelainen reports.

Deputy mayor for urban environment Ilkka Porttikivi (Social Democrats) will join city councillors Aino Halinen, Milka Hanhela, Hely Hollo, Minna Minkkinen and Mitja Tapio (all Left Alliance) and Tiina Mikkonen (Greens). The work aims to reclaim space for native meadow and grassland plants — protecting species such as dark mullein on sun-exposed slopes and opening habitat for wood cranesbill, self-heal, brook bellflower and oxeye daisy.

"Digging work is a concrete way to act for Tampere's nature. Meadow plants are very important to pollinators and therefore to us humans," Porttikivi said. City environment director Kati Skippari and biodiversity development manager Kaisa Mustajärvi will also attend. The volunteer sessions are open to everyone and form part of Tampere's LUMO program to encourage local engagement with nearby nature.