On 21 November, as part of Italy’s National Tree Day, CREA organized an initiative to promote sericulture and environmental education, donating mulberry trees free of charge to three schools in the Veneto region. The initiative is part of CREA’s broader commitment to spreading knowledge about the sericulture and the central role of the mulberry tree in Italy’s historical, scientific, and productive heritage.
The schools involved in the initiative were:
- “G. Mazzini” Primary School in Villanova del Ghebbo (province of Rovigo), part of the Costa di Rovigo – Fratta Polesine Comprehensive Institute;
- “Don Angelo Bertolin” Primary School of the State Comprehensive Institute “Tomaso Albinoni” in Selvazzano Dentro (province of Padua);
- I.I.S. “Duca degli Abruzzi” Agricultural High School in Padua – professional school campus
Villanova del Ghebbo: an educational event on silkworm rearing and silk culture
Among the schools involved, “G. Mazzini” Primary School in Villanova del Ghebbo marked the occasion with an educational event engaging all classes of the school and representatives of the local Municipal Administration. Councillor Enrico Toso participated on behalf of the municipality, highlighting the community’s commitment to environmental education and the promotion of local cultural traditions.
During the event, CREA expert brought silkworms to the school, giving students the opportunity to observe them up close and learn about their life cycle. The day also featured the screening of a video produced by Class 5, which recounts several legends linked to silk, combining history, myth, and cultural storytelling.
The activities provided a highly engaging learning experience, integrating direct observation, scientific education, and knowledge of the relationship between the mulberry tree and silkworm rearing.
A symbolic and tangible contribution to the future
The donation of mulberry trees to schools represents both a symbolic and practical action, linking the celebration of Italy’s National Tree Day to the promotion of biodiversity and the transmission of knowledge about the region’s agricultural and sericulture traditions. Planting mulberry trees in school gardens will allow educational activities on nature observation and silkworm rearing to continue for years to come.
Through this initiative, CREA reinforces its role as a reference point in scientific dissemination and school outreach in Italy, supporting educational pathways that connect younger generations across Europe to the environment, agriculture, and Italy’s productive and sericulture cultural heritage.
