Green Budapest

Lake Naplás is true to its name – A place for relaxation The largest still water in Budapest is quite young. It was formed in 1978 during the flood protection regulation of the Szilas stream. Lake Naplás is worthy of its name, as naplás is an abbreviated form of the word napolás (to postpone), and it is worth postponing our other activities to explore the 16-hectare area and its surroundings.

A jewel above Budapest - The Jókai Garden has retained its charm Although Mór Jókai was not born and raised in Budapest, he still gave something to the capital that is irreplaceable. The garden and park he created have retained their charm to this day, despite the vicissitudes of history. The institutions here, which try to preserve Jókai's heritage, play a major role in these efforts.

The last swamp in Buda may become an eternal forest A questionnaire is being used to assess people's position on the development of the last swampy area of Buda, the protected Mocsárosdűlő. The Budapest City Council hopes to create an eternal forest by planting native tree species in the area. The council is waiting for opinions primarily on the function of the area by 5 May.

The home of 5 lakes - Ten interesting pictures of the 250-year-old Füvészkert It has been operating in its current location for 174 years, its oldest trees, the fern pines, have lived through 200 springs, and its fairy roses were admired by members of the royal family. In its area, which once was the park of Festetics Palace, there were once 5 lakes, and its glasshouse was known to generations from The Paul Street Boys. Take an imaginary walk in the 250-year-old Füvészkert (ELTE Botanical Garden; 'herb garden') with ten carefully selected pictures.

Visitor centre planned for Jókai kert – Steindl Villa to host exhibitions The Jókai Garden and the Steindl Villa on Sváb Hill are to be renovated. The investment is planned to be completed by 2022, and the developers hope that Budapest will be enriched with a popular resting place.

Meggyfa Street playground completed The pavements of the playground on Meggyfa Street have been renovated, the missing elements of the fence replaced, new benches and a drinking fountain have been installed, while new trees and plants were planted in the area.

Green space developments to increase in second half of the decade Pestbuda has studies the Budapest Green Infrastructure Development and Maintenance Action Plan recently adopted by the Budapest General Assembly in detail. The document called the Dezső Radó Plan is essentially a summary of the green area developments in Budapest that have previously been decided at a government, district or city level. Several of them have already started and are in progress, and there are some new elements in the recently released plans.

A Chamber of adventures in Budapest – Kamaraerdő holds excitement for everyone Join Pestbuda on a visit to the largest contiguous forest in the most populous district of Budapest. It is a forest, but it could be called an adventure since there are no other places in Budapest with so many leisure activities.

Parks around Rákos Stream in Zugló to be renovated The banks of Rákos Stream in the 14th District will be transformed into a park in three stages. Work is already underway, and the first 400-metre section between Egressy Road and Bartl János Street has already been opened. The entire project will be completed by the autumn. Plenty of trees and shrubs will be planted in the new areas, and plenty of benches will be installed, on sun terraces, alongside playgrounds, drinking fountains. Public lighting will be solar-powered.

Educational canopy trail planned for Normafa An educational canopy trail has been planned for Normafa. To be built on the former Sport Hotel site, the trail will have space for 150 visitors and focus on conservation education. The study trail will begin at ground level and climb above the tree canopy to offer a stunning view of Budapest.

Jumping to the present: Újbuda renovated 12 000 square metres of Parks A large 12 000 square metre park has been created among the tower blocks built in Újbuda in the 1970s. Sprawling between Tétényi Road and Fejér Lipót Street, the park includes renovated sports fields and courts, walkways, new ping pong tables and rest stops.

Playground and outdoor gym being built on Nagyrét The development of Nagyrét in Hűvösvölgy continues: a thematic playground and an outdoor gym will be built on one of the most popular greens in Budapest by the end of April. The playground, designed by sculptors, will evoke the indigenous fauna and flora of the forest. Work will begin later this week.

From military training ground to nature preserve Not far from Megyeri Bridge, an environment filled with rare plants has survived, with biodiversity that would be sensational anywhere in the country. Yet a few decades ago, the Újpest Homoktövis Nature Reserve, one of the last remnants of the Rákos Fields, was still a military training ground. Join Pestbuda on the newest instalment in a series that explores the national wonders of Budapest.

Large-scale reforestation programme set to begin in Budapest The renewal and reforestation of forests in and around Budapest will start in two locations, Budakeszi forest in the 13th District and Határ forest in Kőbánya. The programme aims to increase the ratio of indigenous trees and shrubs in the forests and remove dangerous weak plants.

Massive leisure park to be created on neglected plots near Pál-Völgyi Cave A leisure park will be established on three neglected plots bordered by Csalit Street – Csatárka Road – Szikla Street in the 2nd District. The plans have been made following consultations with locals. The leisure park will include an outdoor gym, a geological and botanical educational trail and garden, a running track, a playground, a giant slide, a dog park and a traffic park.

Lookout tower to stand next to the largest lake in Budapest The newest lookout tower of the capital will be completed soon in the 16th District in the forest surrounding Lake Naplás. The 22-meter-high building, constructed from wooden beams, has been designed to fit into its environment and will offer an unparalleled panorama of Lake Naplás and the Gödöllő Hills.

Playground in Meggyfa Street being redesigned The renovation of the playground on Meggyfa Street in the 3rd District will begin at the beginning of February. New games will be installed, plants added, and safe paving laid. A drinking fountain and a 3D hopscotch game are also part of the plans. Work is expected to take two months.

A hidden gem – The forgotten true beauty of Merzse Swamp Budapest is perhaps one of the leading capitals in the world in terms of groundwater and springs. However, not only springs can be found throughout the city. Once Pest was surrounded by swamps: from the present-day Újpest to Soroksár swampy areas ringed the city. Today, the diverse wildlife that surrounded Pest not so long ago is confined to the small Merzse Swamp.

Hidden natural treasures of Budapest – The Jane Goodall Trail Jane Goodall, the internationally respected conservationist, environmentalist and researcher, has visited Hungary several times. However, few know that an educational trail bears her name in Budapest, and is worth a visit for everyone who lives in the city. It can be found on the outskirts of the 2nd District, in Pesthidegkút. But what did Goodall do in the area?

First steps to revitalise Népliget made – The largest park in Budapest has been neglected for decades The Budapest City Council is preparing plans for the renovation of the public park known as Népliget and the protection of its natural values. Anyone who visits the park has been invited to share input into the design phase.

Leisure park opens in Gazdagrét The Kaptató Promenade sports and leisure park has opened in Gazdagrét in the 11th District. The park features a larger green area, an outdoor workout area, a dog park and a chess table.

Botanical Garden in City Park opens Renovated botanical garden, a new dog park, and the two-kilometre-long, illuminated running track have been opened in City Park. With this, more than 150,000 square metres of green space has been revitalized during the development of the park.

A greener Buda – trees and other plants planted in Buda About 250 trees have been planted in the 2nd District through November.

New Görgey Park completed in Csepel The newly opened Görgey Park in Csepel was renovated based on observations collected from the public. A fountain, running track and other sports equipment can be found on the green, where 40 new saplings have also been planted.

Trees lining Újpest Embankment to be refreshed Starting from Jászai Mari Square and moving north a total of 105 elderly acacia trees will be felled and 161 common maples planted. The maple is indigenous, can cope well with urban environments and grows lush foliage within a few years.

Next section of Andrássy Avenue to be renovated – 4,500 new plants planned Gardening works started yesterday along Andrássy Avenue. A total of 4,500 perennial plants and 16 new trees will be planted between Oktogon and Vörösmarty Street.