Participants of the International Conference “Forests of Eurasia – Vologda Dawns” that was held in Vologda from September 30 to October 5 visited the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve on October 4. Problems of forest, science and education in this sphere were discussed at the event.
The scholars came to Kirillov to participate in the official opening ceremony of the natural monument - the English oak (Quercus robur L.) growing in the museum. An informational conference took place before the ceremony. It was opened with the report of historian and archeologist I.F. Nikitinsky (Vologda) about an amazing stone called “Trace of Gods”. It is located in the outskirts of the Tsypina Hill and has a religious meaning. Besides, people who gathered in the conference hall were greeted by: Y.M. Zhavoronkov, director of the Vologda branch of the LLL “Sound Timber”; A.V. Yulin, deputy head of the Kirillov District Administration; I.A. Smirnov, deputy director of the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve; N.K. Maksutova, chairperson of the Vologda branch of the Russian Geographical Society; V.S. Trunov, representative of the Timber Complex Department in the Vologda region; A.L. Kuznetsov, director of the National Park “Russian North”.
The solemn opening ceremony was held near the monument of nature situated at the western façade of the House of the Father Superior. In 2012, the English oak was included into the All-Russian Register of the Oldest Trees of Russia. It was believed that it was planted about 160 years ago. But the researches of the specialists of the Wood Examination Centre in the Non-Profit Organization Strategic Alliance “Sound Timber” (Moscow) have shown that the real age of the oak was 220 years.
Thus, one more interesting monument – the natural monument of national importance – can be seen in the Kirillo-Belozersky Museum-Reserve now. It was documented: the museum was given the decision of the certification commission of the All-Russian program “Trees as Wildlife Monuments” and a certificate. The oak has been already photographed by the visitors – a special plate attracting tourists’ attention was installed near it.
