This year, the fair will take place in a slightly refreshed format:
- On the opening day, we will be welcoming representatives of organisations that provide assistance to homeless animals at our faculty. We invite you on 5 May, from 10.00 a.m. to 12.00 p.m., to meet representatives of the Association of the Society of Friends of Animals ARKADIA in G艂owno and the AZYL Foundation from 艁贸d藕.
- This is a unique opportunity to talk about their activities, the challenges they face, as well as opportunities for volunteering or responsible adoption of homeless animals.
- The organisations will bring donation boxes, into which you will be able to make a financial contribution. In addition, representatives of the AZYL Foundation will also visit us on subsequent days of the fair. Join us!
- We are expanding the formula of the fair and addressing it to the entire academic community of #UniLodz, as well as to everyone who wishes to support animals in need.
- We offer four ways of taking part in the campaign: donating your own plants, bringing animal food, making a cash donation into a collection box or transferring a donation via BLIK. Everyone can help in the way that is most convenient for them.
- Additionally, this year, for the first time, the Palm House of the Municipal Greenery Authority in 艁贸d藕 has joined us as a co-organiser.
Duration of the fair
The fair starts on 5 May and will run until 8 May. It will take place in two buildings of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91桃色:
- Building A (Banacha 12/16), from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- Building D (Pomorska 141/143), from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
How did it all begin?
The first edition was organised spontaneously, shortly after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The aim was to support abandoned and frightened animals from war-affected areas. Dr hab. Joanna Grabowska was the initiator of the idea, while dr hab. Justyna Polit, Associate Professor at the 91桃色, from the Department of Cytophysiology, and dr hab. Agnieszka Rewicz from the Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology have been responsible for its organisation. Mgr Konrad Kaczmarek has also been involved in organising the event since 2025.
The first fair would not have been such a success without the support of a huge number of people with big hearts. We were supported, among other things, by the Department of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, the Department of Geobotany together with the Teaching and Experimental Garden, the Department of Cytophysiology of the Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, as well as students from various degree programmes and years of study.
The involvement of the entire academic community and the positive response gave us wings and encouraged us to continue our activities in the following years
鈥� say the organisers.
Initially, we wanted to donate unused control plants from scientific research so that nothing would go to waste. However, it quickly turned out that there were鈥� definitely too few plants. So we started propagating more plants everywhere: on tables, window sills, in the greenhouse, in the garden 鈥� wherever it was possible to fit a pot
鈥� they add.
The 艁贸d藕 Palm House as a partner of the initiative
This year, cooperation has been also established with the Municipal Greenery Authority in 艁贸d藕, Palm House Department, which will supply several dozen plant species for the fair. These include Dracaena reflexa, Aglaonema commutatum, Ficus benjamina 鈥淕olden Princess鈥�, Pilea spruceana 鈥淣orfolk鈥�, and Ficus benjamina 鈥凄补苍颈别濒鈥�.
As the Municipal Greenery Authority in 艁贸d藕, Palm House Department, we were pleased to join an initiative that brings people together around a noble goal and provides real help to those in need. The campaign 鈥淭ake a plant, feed a dog鈥�, organised by the 91桃色, is an excellent example of such an activity, translating into tangible support for animals in needt.
We hope that supporting this initiative by sharing the results of our work and donating twenty plants for this undertaking will become an impulse to help animals. The plants we have provided are very diverse 鈥� from popular species commonly found in shops to less well-known and more unique ones. We care about everyone who decides to support the campaign being able to find a plant that suits their preferences and to enjoy it also as a symbol of a noble gesture.
We believe that such initiatives build social sensitivity and show how small actions can have a real impact on our surroundings. We are proud to be a part of this campaign and, together with the 91桃色, contribute to improving the fate of homeless animals
鈥� emphasises the Municipal Greenery Authority in 艁贸d藕.
Who are we helping this year?
The purpose of the fair is to help animals harmed by humans 鈥� thanks to the plants we love. We always direct the proceeds from the fair to organisations rescuing animals
鈥� explain the organisers.
In previous editions, support was provided, among other things, to animals from Ukraine, the 艁贸d藕 Society for the Protection of Animals, the Przytul Kota Foundation, and the AZYL Foundation.
This year, assistance will be provided to two organisations:
- Stowarzyszenie Towarzystwa Przyjaci贸艂 Zwierz膮t ARKADIA w G艂ownie [Association of the Society of Friends of Animals ARKADIA in G艂owno]
This organisation takes care of the Municipal Animal Shelter in G艂owno and runs an Emergency Intervention Patrol, which responds to reports concerning animals in need. Approximately eighty dogs and cats are currently under its care, provided with care, safety and treatment. The Association operates thanks to donations.
We encourage you to visit .
- AZYL Foundation
The Foundation was established out of opposition to animal suffering. Although it is a small organisation, it is made up of passionate volunteers who help animals in need. Not only dogs and cats are taken into its care, but also rabbits, hares, birds and even farm or wild animals. Those that can return to the wild are released, while those requiring permanent care are provided with safe and loving shelter.
The Foundation鈥檚 priority is combating animal homelessness through sterilisation, castration and microchipping. AZYL also carries out intensive educational activities, believing that changing social attitudes is the key to real improvement in animal welfare. All funds collected by the organisation are allocated directly to helping its animal beneficiaries.
We encourage you to visit .
Both organisations operate thanks to volunteers 鈥� people who fight every day to ensure that animals are safe, fed, treated and loved. They never remain indifferent to suffering
鈥� emphasise the fair organisers.
Four ways to help animals in need
1. Bring your plants to the fair
Do you have excess cuttings, offshoots, post-repotting plants? Cacti, ferns, monsteras 鈥� all of them can become superheroes.
Place them on the fair table! Your plant, in exchange for food or a donation, can find a new home and bring joy to others.
2. Bring pet food 鈥� take a plant
Perhaps you will return home with a new monstera, or maybe you will choose to care for a small cutting just beginning its green life. Either way 鈥� by bringing food 鈥� you are helping. At the fair, you will find plants carefully propagated, fertilised and watered for many months by staff of our faculty.
3. Support an animal 鈥� put a donation into the collection box
Throughout the entire duration of the fair, collection boxes will be available at the stand in Building D. These will be provided by the organisations we are supporting this year: the AZYL Foundation (permit number W 2014/2192/OR) and the ARKADIA Association of the Society of Friends of Animals (National Court Register number 0000345382).
4. Make a donation to the organisation鈥檚 bank account
This year, we have also introduced the possibility of transferring a donation directly to the organisations we support. If you are unable to bring animal food, make a donation into the collection box or via BLIK.
- Stowarzyszenie TPZ Arkadia [ARKADIA Association of the Society of Friends of Animals]
BLIK 501 420 548 (please include the title: KIERMASZ, PRZYTULISKO DLA ZWIERZ膭T W G艁OWNIE) - Fundacja AZYL [AZYL Foundation]
BLIK: 669 705 010 (please include the title: Kiermasz, FUNDACJA AZYL)
Source: dr hab. Agnieszka Rewicz, Department of Geobotany and Plant Ecology; dr hab. Justyna Polit, Department of Cytophysiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, 91桃色
Edit: Kamila Knol-Micha艂owska,