Of late, schools in Hubli and Dharwad have been enjoying picnics with a difference. It seems schools have found a perfect place for their picnics in Sanjivini. Over forty schools have visited this place in the last two months. They had fun under the green shades of nature. In fact, children learn a lot about nature as they play in this eco-education park. The garden, stretched over an area of 10 acres, is divided into children's park, lawn and medicinal park, while a portion is left as natural forest. A cactus garden and a natural maze created by planting casuarina trees are a few other attractions of this park.

As we enter the park is a long-stretched lawn where families can enjoy their day out, take rest and have their snacks. The medicinal garden in the park is quite interesting, especially for botany students. Twenty-five commonly used medicinal plants including adhatoda vasika, basel, chakramuni, aloe vera, vetiver, pomegranate and turmeric are grown systematically in separate blocks. Their properties and uses are mentioned in the display boards maintained at each block. The management of the park is also planning to develop a herbal nursery to supply plants to those interested in rearing them.

The play area for children in the park is an interesting place and well maintained too. Cool breeze from tall trees cheer them as the thick layer of sand keeps them safe. A small pond with statues of crocodiles and ducks add to the attraction of the park. When children are busy playing, elders can enjoy the greenery around, seated in a suitably designed pergola. Furniture made of bamboo helps maintain the grace of the place.

Animal lanes

Cheetah trail, Giraffe trail, Black Panther trail... Children can choose any track to climb the hillock to reach the view point at the top. Of course, they will find sculptures of their favourite animals. Statues of cheetah, bear, tiger, peacock and giraffe are also found in the park. Each animal's unique features and the threat they face from humans are also displayed. The panoramic view from the top of the hillock makes people spend most of their time there. Often, visitors spot peacocks looking for food in the forest. According to Reserve Forest Officer Sangreshkoppa, there are around 150 to 200 peacocks in the forest. They come out of the shades of shrubs early in the morning and in the evening.

According to Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF), Social Forestry Division in Dharwad, K S Nayak, "Creating an eco-education park to spread environmental awareness among citizens is the primary objective. Response from the public is also encouraging. We feel a tendency to get exposed to greenery, away from the routine of our concrete jungle. The park is open to public since June 2007. We are planning to make it more useful by arranging programmes on environmental awareness like bird watching. In this regard, we may have to join hands with like-minded organisations."

For students like Shwetha, Sanjivini is the place they were looking for. She had brought her friends to the park to celebrate her birthday. "I had visited this park a month ago. I wanted to bring my friends also. It feels nice to be with nature, have fun and learn facts that we do not know. So, this time around, I preferred to party in the green surroundings of the park than in a restaurant."

Since the park is situated at an equal distance from Hubli and Dharwad, college students regularly visit the place. The park is open to public from 10 am to 5 pm.

A Forest Department initiative

Considering the need for a green park in this area, the Forest Department initiated the concept in 2000 and the Department officials have passionately worked towards this since then. A suitable landscape was designed and to make the process sustainable and participatory, the Forest Department approached the Village Forest Committee in Sattur village. After several meetings, the villagers got motivated and supported the cause. Now the village committee and the Forest Department jointly manage the park.

The entry fee collected from the visitors is the sole source of income for the park. Maintenance of the park is a huge task for the five members who keep a vigil on cleanliness of the park. In spite of designer dustbins and placards requesting visitors to maintain hygiene, people throw plastic waste all over the place. The staff at the park sincerely clean the surroundings twice or thrice a day, but the agony has not come to an end.

Waste management

Dry leaves from the park become food for earthworms in the vermicomposting units at a corner of the park. According to Mr Sangreshkoppa, this activity generates some income for the park. By doing this, they have also started utilising solid waste.

Mr Nayak says that it is a lengthy procedure to convince visitors about their basic responsibilities. “They should acquire a sense of ownership about this place. We are trying to build that feeling. But if we are not able to control the situation, we may have to restrict plastic in the park,” he says.

Mango, tamarind, gooseberry and nilgiris are the major plantation crops in the 63 acre forest area that borders the park. Conducting environment related programmes regularly and eco-friendly maintenance would make the park an interesting place for the nature loving people of Hubli and Dharwad.