'Returning Snow to Nature': Recycling Over 70,000 Cubic Meters of Snow to Nourish Park Green Spaces

Following the first snowfall of the new year, the Beijing Municipal Administration Center of Parks carried out an innovative ecological practice themed "Returning Snow to Nature". Through a series of science-based measures, the Summer Palace, the National Botanical Garden of China, and other parks have enabled snowfall to not only enhance landscape aesthetics but also replenish soil moisture and nourish vegetation.

In the tree pits of the courtyards of the Summer Palace, snow accumulation was strictly controlled to a height of no more than 0.5 meters. For tree species with thin bark and poor cold resistance, special care is taken to avoid piling snow around the root area, and prolonged accumulation is prevented to protect the roots from frost damage. After the onset of winter, the park implements cold protection measures for flowering shrubs such as crabapple and peony, including soil mounding and wrapping with straw ropes. This concentrated stacking of clean snow provides an additional natural "insulating layer" for the plants.

The tree rejuvenation wells for ancient trees and flowering shrubs on the paved grounds of the Summer Palace have been designated as specialized snow storage areas. As the snow melts, the water can then infiltrate the plant roots, increasing soil moisture content.

Studies show that snowmelt water contains far less heavy water (deuterium oxide) than regular water, which promotes plant metabolism and enhances stress resistance. As snow melts, it absorbs heat from the surroundings, helping to freeze and kill overwintering pests in the soil. Additionally, nitrate ions present in snow act as a natural nitrogen fertilizer.

At the National Botanical Garden, snow was evenly spread to increase its thickness in areas such as the lawns around greenhouses and the tulip exhibition zone west of the Science Education Hall, helping to insulate plant roots. In areas like the entrance zone and tree sections, snow was piled around trees. This not only prevents snow accumulation from obstructing visitor pathways but also allows the snow to melt slowly around the tree roots, improving soil moisture.

At Xiangshan Park, staff transferred and piled snow from paved areas such as pathways and squares under flowering shrubs onto green spaces along both sides of the roads. Natural snowfall in forested areas has been left undisturbed and allowed to gradually and evenly seep into the soil when it melts. This increases soil moisture and provides ample water for plants during spring growth.

It is reported that during this snowfall, 13 municipal parks and the China Garden Museum effectively utilized 70,200 cubic meters of snow. This included piling snow around trees in 2,837 tree pits, temporarily accumulating snow around flowering shrubs like peonies for 3,093 plants, spreading snow on lawns, bamboo groves, and green spaces covering 506,100 square meters to retain moisture, and storing snow in 247 rejuvenation wells for ancient trees.

(Source: Beijing Daily)