Midori Ippai Project Activities LINE 279Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens Flower Field "Hana Ippai Project" (Making of Summer Flowerbeds) May 19, 2018 NTT West Tokai Group
On May 19, 2018 (Saturday), the "Hana Ippai Project (Making of Summer Flowerbeds)" was held at Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Chikusa-ku, Nagoya City. This is the first social contribution activity of the fiscal year that was held within the Nagoya district.
This project to engage in the making of flowerbeds is held three times a year in spring, summer and autumn, and has been gaining popularity as years go by.
This year, the activity was brought forward by a week as the original date set by Higashiyama Botanical Gardens clashed with another event. For this reason, NTT West Tokai Group held this event on its own with a total number of 251 participants who are employees and their family members as well as retired employees.
Participants gathered at the open space of the flower garden and an opening ceremony was held, followed by speeches from Mr. Taniguchi, Head of the botanical gardens, and Mr. Iwai, Head of NTT West Technological Innovation Division, Environmental Management Promotion Office.
A group photo of everyone was taken in front of the flowerbeds before getting to work, after which the participants proceeded to one of the three flowerbeds that they were assigned to.
Seedlings of sunflowers, which symbolize summer, were planted. A total of three species and 2,580 seedlings were prepared before the event started.
After a briefing on the planting procedures was conducted by the staff, participants started to place the seedlings at equal distance in the flowerbeds.
Planting work was carried out mainly by the family members and older children, while the young children also worked hard with the scoop they held in their hand.
To enhance the sense of involvement among the children in this round of activity, we have prepared vests for the young children and requested them to put them on. Looking down from the observation deck, the view of the flowerbeds resembles a field of greenish-yellow blossoms.
It took less time than expected to complete the planting process.
In order to track the growth of the flowers, we have requested the participants to visit the botanical garden again while their entry pass is still valid and make a report with photos and written records of the growth process.
The seedlings planted are expected to reach full bloom in early July and we believe the large sunflower blossoms will offer a pleasant view to the visitors.
In the afternoon of the same day, 54 participants also took part in an activity to plant hollyhocks.
For activities in the past years, employees of NTT West Group were asked to become "foster parents" for growing hollyhocks at their home, and the seedlings were then multiplied by root division in the following years and returned to Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto City. However, the rate of hollyhocks returned each year has remained low.
Against this backdrop, we consulted Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens about the know-how on growing hollyhocks as well as the effective utilization of the piece of land where tree thinning was performed last autumn to develop the satoyama (village forest) at their premises. Thanks to the support of Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, we have implemented trial plans starting this year for better ways to grow more hollyhocks.
Planting of the hollyhock seedlings prepared for this round of activity completed within the scheduled time.
As with the flowerbeds, participants will continue to visit the garden regularly to water the hollyhocks and track their growth until they are ready for multiplication by root division in the following years.
To promote the participants' interest toward biodiversity at home through the new initiative this year, we prepared seeds of balloon vines in handmade bags for them to bring back as a souvenir.
As with past years, NTT West Tokai Group have reviewed events and implemented new initiatives to make them more attractive, and will continue to engage actively in social contribution and environmental protection activities.
- Organizing companies
- NTT West Tokai Regional Headquarters
NTT Business Solutions Tokai Branch
NTT Marketing Act Tokai Branch
NTT Fieldtechno Tokai Branch
NTT Neomeit Tokai Branch
NTT Business Associe West Tokai Branch
Tokai Health Administration Center
Tokai Denden-kyuyukai (organization for retirees)
Retirees' Association
TelWel West Nippon Tokai Branch - Venue
- Flower Field in Nagoya City, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens
- No. of participants
- 251
