Volunteer Heritage Day at Rapola Hillfort on Sept. 12 to Clear Scrub and Remove Invasives

According to the City of Tampere, volunteers will gather at the Rapola hillfort in Valkeakoski on Saturday 12 September for a nature and cultural heritage workday from 10:00 to 17:00. The event is organised by the Pirkanmaa Provincial Museum, the Tampere Natural History Museum, Tampere Art Museum and Voipaa Art Centre, with support from the City of Tampere.

The Rapola ridge is a protected cultural landscape with an impressive ancient hillfort and numerous archaeological remains. Organisers plan hands-on work to clear scrub and mow meadows so old earthworks become visible. Archaeologist Kreetta Lesell will brief participants on the site’s history and archaeology. "The practical goal is to remove undergrowth from the hillfort’s main gate and to mow hay so the walls become visible," she said. Biologist Veera Karhu from the Tampere Natural History Museum will lead removal of invasive species such as lupins and rose rugosa. She will also help identify rarer plants.

The Voipaa Art Centre at the ridge’s foot will open two exhibitions that day, a Sebastien Boulter solo show and a group show by three Spanish contemporary artists. The centre will be open 11:00–17:00, making it possible to visit during the volunteers’ lunch hour.

The day continues a series of volunteer invasive-species and park cleanup actions supported by the city this year, including politicians joining lupin-pulling sessions and a citywide cleanup that mobilised dozens of volunteer teams.

The free event is open to all but requires preregistration by 4 September. Places are limited to the first 20 sign-ups, and parts of the route cross steep forest terrain, so the programme is not fully accessible. The schedule runs with talks and work sessions from 10:00 to 13:00, a free lunch for volunteers from 13:00 to 14:00, and further work and information from 14:00 to 17:00. Sign up via the online form, email or phone listed by the organisers.