The sun-exposed dry meadow of Viinikanlahti wastewater treatment plant is located near the centre of the city of Tampere. The area is over 500 metres long and spans over 7,500m2. There, the members of Wild Zone have sown local seeds of railroad track and ridge habitats. The seedbed of the meadow is gravel from the previously destroyed Ratina ridge, dug out from the location of the Ratina shopping centre. The meadow was established in 2020.
The sun-exposed dry meadow of Viinikanlahti is temporary. During approximately ten years, the goal of the meadow is to accumulate a soil seed bank which can be utilized in establishing new meadows in Tampere. The members of Wild Zone have managed the area by weeding. As the seedbed is infertile, it wasn't necessary to mow the meadow during the first years.
In the second year, entomologists observed an endangered moth called clay groundling (Nothris verbascella) in the area. The moth hasn't been sighted in Tampere previously. The discovery of this moth on the meadow proves that meadows established via sowing seeds can help endangered insects.
The sun-exposed dry meadow of Viinikanlahti has been established in cooperation with Tampereen Vesi Oy, the City of Tampere, and landscaping architect agency Maanlumo.
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