Ternejas Park in the centre of Rūjiena boasts dendrological diversity and a special exotic adornment – a sakura garden.

The park was historically a cemetery, and only a relatively small part of it consists of relatively new 20th-century plantings. In the younger part of the park, several species of native and non-native trees have been planted – Amur cork-oak, Siberian cedar-nut, British varieties of common elm, common oak, Siberian white fir. The oldest part of the park also has trees of both native and non-native species, including larch, Norway spruce and Norway oak, which have grown to a considerable size.

In spring 2009, around 50 sakura – Japanese cherry trees were planted in Ternej Park, which were a gift from the sister city of Ruijiena, Higashikawa. Thanks to the care of the gardeners, the well-wintered, tender sakura seedlings have survived the harsh winters of northern Latvia and in the spring they delight with bright pink flowers.

Valmiera Municipality Tourist Board photo archive