In the Ghirardi Oasis a project of regeneration saves 4 hectares of Castagneto following the rhythms of the seasons.

In the heart of the northern Apennines, in the province of Parma, the WWF Oasis of the Ghirardi hides a silent threat. His centuries -old chestnuts, custodians of a landscape and a millennial memory, are dying. Invasive species such as brambles and ferns suffocate the original vegetation, while pathologies such as cortical cancer and ink mortar have at risk of the survival of the great trees that have been nourishing, repairing and hosting life for centuries.

It is here that an ambitious environmental regeneration project has been started on about 4 hectares of Castagneto da fruit, a historical habitat that is facing a slow decline due to the abandonment of cultivation care and the competition with non -native species. The intervention – supported by Goliath and conducted by WWF, is not only ecological, but a real act of care towards a natural and cultural heritage that risked disappearing.

The plan scrupulously follows the rhythms of nature, distributed along the seasons on a path that accompanies the woods in its awakening. In February 2025 the thinning and the opening of the wooded space began, to encourage the penetration of light and stimulate natural regeneration. In March the removal of ramaglie and trunks from the impluvi, to protect the most delicate habitats and prevent future environmental damage, followed.

The highlight comes in September with the graft and planting of 50 new chestnuts, selected to guarantee genetic continuity and new vitality to the ecosystem. The intervention will end in December with the recovery of a natural source, fundamental for the wildlife of the Oasis. Each activity has been designed to reduce competition around the oldest specimens, encourage their vitality and contain invasive species.

The oasis of the Ghirardi, which extends for over 600 hectares, is an open -air laboratory for environmental protection. This corner of a seemingly intact nature also undergoes pressures that are altering balance. The project also includes fire prevention actions, safety of the paths and creation of immersive paths with information panels to guide visitors to discover local biodiversity.

Regenerating chestnuts means much more than saving a single species: it means restoring lymph to a whole complex ecosystem and rich in biodiversity. Secular chestnuts are in fact the habitat of dozens of animal and vegetable species. In the dead wood and in the cavities of the oldest trunks, the flying deer, the largest European beetle, nest, while the undergrowth houses an extraordinary variety of mushrooms: from precious porcini tree to mycorrhizens that live in symbiosis with the roots of the trees, exchanging essential nutrients for the survival of the woods.

Squirrels, peaks and night birds of prey are moved among the branches, while Ricci, rates and a multitude of invertebrates find refuge on the ground. The spring blooms attract wild bees and butterflies, creating a food chain that extends to top predators. Saving chestnuts means protecting this delicate balance, improving air quality, giving well -being to people and enhancing a natural and cultural heritage that belongs to everyone.

Deep need. But why do this need for regeneration now assume such a profound meaning? The answer comes from a research conducted by astraricerche on a commission of Golia: over 50% of Italians feel the need to physically regenerate at least once a week, while 47.1% regularly warn the need for mental recovery. The main causes are stress and mental fatigue (46.7%), negative emotions such as anger or disappointment (30.2%) and demanding days of work or study (29.5%).

The most affected are the women of Gen Z: 62.1% of young people warn the need to mentally regenerate one or several times a week. A phenomenon that grows in large cities, where urban rhythms amplify malaise. For 16.4% of the population is even a daily urgency.

Nature emerges as a precious ally for this collective need. 36.2% of Italians regenerate walking or hiking in the greenery. Two thirds of the population (66.3%) considers the time spent in “regenerating” nature, with 29.3% that defines it “very regenerating”. In total, 91% have already experienced a natural regeneration experience.

The problem is accessibility: only 31.5% of Italians live within 5 km from large natural areas. While 59% consider adequate the presence of green areas in their region, just 10.8% consider it “very adequate”.

To raise awareness on these themes, from 19 to 21 September Milan CityLife hosts “The time of a breath”: a multisensory installation in Piazza Tre Torri which offers citizens a taste of wooded immersion. A small green space in the heart of the metropolis to reflect on the importance of finding moments of pause in the daily routine. We tried it in preview and the experience – despite the noise of traffic and the megaish lights – was also satisfying because the importance of chestnuts is discovered.