Landscape management

The objective of restoring the national landscape of Suomenlinna is to preserve the landscape and flora that are typical to the bastion fortress and the garrison that operated there in an optimally authentic condition.

Approximately 30 employees of the Property unit are engaged in landscaping and park maintenance during the summer. For safety reasons alone the old tree stand requires increasing attention: the felling, planting and pruning of trees are managed by the Property unit according to an annual plan. Repairing the damage due to erosion caused by the weather and by visitors has become an increasingly important aspect of the work of gardeners.

Work in landscaping demands solid expertise and the ability to consider the big picture. Management and renovation of parks is based on the Suomenlinna landscape renovation plan formulated in 1987. The most important partner in this work is the City of Helsinki, which is responsible for providing certain local authority services such as the bathing beach and playing field, and also for the upkeep of some parks and roads, which the City procures from the Governing Body of Suomenlinna. Some individual landscaping projects have been implemented in association with the Suomenlinna Prison, which is also a partner of the Governing Body of Suomenlinna.

Protection of the delicate terrain of Suomenlinna is incorporated in the planning work and in visitor management. The well-trodden paths on the walls and the earth-covered, hill-like roofs of the gunpowder magazines are places of delicate vegetation, and can be dangerous to both children and adults. The growing number of visitors burdens the sand-covered embankments and walls, which are not suitable for walking, destroying vegetation and creating sand runs. The rocky fields of Kustaanmiekka are also in danger.

The parks are divided into protected cultural landscape and fortress structures, and lawn areas for use by visitors, e.g. for picnicking. There are, however, many risks involved in allowing visitors into a World Heritage site.

The Property unit, Planning unit and tourism planners are currently working together to find the best possible ways of preventing damage related to visitor management, such as infringements of the ban on barbecuing due to the risk of fire, unauthorized beaching, grave desecration (Ehrensvärd’s tomb in the Great Courtyard) and disturbing the peace of the courtyard areas of residential buildings. The aim is also to find ways of reducing the quantity of waste generated in the summer season. Waste management usually requires the Property unit to increase the number of rounds required for emptying waste containers and to hire more staff for waste collection. During the winter the Property unit maintains the 35-kilometre road network on the island.