26/07/2026
Two tree-planting projects were implemented simultaneously by Suraj Foundation, Sangli in the Botanical Garden of Nav Krishna Valley School, Kupwad. These two projects are the Butterfly Garden and the Floral Forest. The projects were conceived and funded by Suraj Foundation, Sangli, while their design, planning, and technical guidance were undertaken by our organization, Nature Conservation Society, Sangli (NACONS).The Botanical Garden extends over approximately 4.5 acres. Earlier, two projects—the Miyawaki Forest and a Bamboo Forest—had already been developed here under the guidance of NECONS. These two new projects are valuable additions to the garden.
On Thursday, 16 July 2026, the projects were inaugurated and dedicated to the public in the presence of distinguished dignitaries, including Dr. Mainak Ghosh, District Collector of Sangli; Mr. Tushar Doshi, Superintendent of Police, Sangli; Mr. Rahul Bhingare, Regional Officer of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC); and other eminent guests.
The first project, the Butterfly Garden, includes the plantation of over 250 species of plants that attract and support butterflies. These comprise nectar plants, host plants (used by butterflies for laying eggs), and food plants for caterpillars. The garden features exotic species such as Ixora, Pentas, and Stachytarpheta, along with native species including Badakvel, Krishna Kamal (Passion Flower), Curry Leaf, Rui (Calotropis), Agnimanth, Dinda, Waghati, Dagadipala, and Ambushi. Some wild plant species, such as Khulkhula and Hastishundi, could not be procured as saplings, so their seeds have been sown directly in the garden. As more species become available over time, they will also be incorporated into the project. Some wild plant saplings like Dinda, Rui and Castor oil plant could not be procured from nurseries and hence were collected from the roadside.
Butterflies play a crucial role in the process of pollination, making such butterfly gardens small yet significant contributors to the local ecosystem and biodiversity.
The second project, the Floral Forest, consists of a compact woodland of tree species that bloom around the same season. It includes native species such as Palas (Flame of the Forest), Pangara (Indian Coral Tree), Katesavar, Padal, Warang, Akash Neem, Kumbha, Surangi, Sita Ashok, Sonchafa (Champak), Bahava (Golden Shower Tree), Purple Bauhinia, White Bauhinia, Taman, and Kusum. To enhance the colour diversity of the forest, a few exotic species such as Pink Cassia, Tabebuia, Blue Jacaranda (Neelmohor), and Gulmohar have also been planted. Once these trees mature, most of them will flower during the spring and summer seasons, creating a spectacular display of colours both on the trees and across the ground. Besides offering a delightful visual experience, these flowering trees will attract a wide variety of birds, bees, beetles, and butterflies in search of nectar.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those whose invaluable support made these two projects possible. First and foremost, we sincerely thank Mr. Praveen Lunkad, President of Suraj Foundation, for giving us the opportunity to execute these projects and for generously funding them.
We are deeply grateful to Mr. Suhas Wayangankar, mentor of our organization, whose expert guidance in selecting suitable plant species was invaluable. He also provided seeds of several important native wild plant species whose saplings were unavailable. Moreover, he was personally present on the plantation day, guiding us throughout the fieldwork.
We also thank Mr. Prasanna Chippalkatti, a member of our organization, for taking charge of the engineering aspects of the projects, including preparing detailed layouts and marking them accurately on the site.
Our sincere appreciation goes to Mr. Sandesh Patil, one of our active members, who made tremendous efforts to procure many rare plant species from Pune.
Most importantly, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Vinayak Joshi, Sports Teacher at Nav Krishna Valley School and the school staff, who worked tirelessly alongside us to complete both projects. Without his unwavering support, it would have been impossible to complete two major projects so successfully within a short span of just four weeks.
Suraj Foundation and NACONS warmly invite everyone to visit the Botanical Garden and experience these unique projects firsthand. We hope these initiatives inspire greater appreciation for biodiversity and environmental conservation while serving as valuable educational resources for future generations. 🙏
