Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
Volunteers planted a 300m-long fruit tree boulevard in central Slovakia
Planting apple trees along the cycle path in Hriňová. (source: TASR)
Over the past years, fruit trees have been spreading across the Slovak landscape at an impressive pace. This progress is thanks to dedicated growers, passionate orchardists, and organisations promoting the return of heritage varieties and lesser-known fruit species to gardens, orchards and natural areas.
Initiatives like the Ekopolis Foundation’s Planting the Future and Green Oasis programs, or CEEV Živica’s Sadovo and Edible Islands, have been instrumental in this effort. Together with eight partners, the Environment Ministry is undertaking a large-scale project titled Nature for All (Príroda Pre Všetkých).
One of its highlights is mapping and planting heritage and regional fruit varieties in the Podpoľanie region of central Slovakia. This year, a new gem has been added to the collection of heritage fruit plantings – a stunning apple tree alley in Hriňová. Located along a cycling route, this 300-metre stretch features 36 apple trees, each representing a different variety. Like other similar heritage plantings, this one serves multiple purposes, particularly social and ecological.
The planting effort was far from ordinary. The project brought together 20 volunteers from the international DONE program. These young people, aged 18-27, came from the UK, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Australia, Taiwan and Slovakia.
Magical winter weather heralds New Year in Bratislava
Medická Záhrada (Medical Garden) (source: Ján Pallo)
Bratislava experienced its first major snowfall of the season on New Year's Eve, catching both residents and meteorologists off guard. The results were spectacular.
On Tuesday evening, and again on Wednesday evening, the Slovak capital experienced an unusual phenomenon: snowflakes forming from moisture despite freezing temperatures. According to the imeteo portal, this so-called "mystery snow" isn’t detectable by radar.
The unique snowfall was caused by persistent low clouds and fog, which also contributed to frost accumulation in the area. The snow brought delight to neighbourhoods like Staré Mesto and Petržalka, where this rare winter treat beautifully transformed the streets. For now, the city is embracing its surprise encounter with winter's charm.
Container return rate in Slovakia is over 90 percent
Slovaks returned over 90 percent of designated containers for recycling in 2024. (source: SME/Marko Erd)
The return rate of deposit beverage containers in Slovakia remains consistently above 90 percent, according to the Deposit Return System Administrator. This impressive figure reflects the public's strong embrace of the system since its launch just over three years ago.
Maintaining a high return rate for deposit beverage containers and fostering positive motivation among Slovaks to participate in the system remains a key challenge for 2025, according to the Deposit Return System Administrator’s 2024 review. The goal is to sustain the impressive return rate of over 90 percent, a testament to the system's broad acceptance and public commitment to environmental protection.
A survey by 2muse revealed that 99 percent of Slovaks are familiar with the system, and 95 percent have firsthand experience with it.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
A Philadelphia native has found a home in Bratislava; the similarities between the two places are uncanny.
What investments did 2024 bring to Slovakia? From state-of-the-art battery modules to electric car drives and surplus electricity storage.
Slovak scientists are improving people's lives. Better cancer detection, a cure for diabetes, and other targets are in in their sights.
Liptovský Mikuláš-based brewer Nilio has developed a unique method for producing non-alcoholic beer.
Slovakia is mulling building more nuclear power facilities, as well as boosting renewable resources and e-mobility.
Meme of the week
This meme, which parodies the name of Slovak National Party (SNS) leader Andrej Danko and the names of Škoda car models (which often use 'Q' in a non-standard way, e.g. 'Karoq', 'Kodiaq', etc.), was posted on the Facebook page of the satirical collective Zomri.
Former police chief and Progressive Slovakia MP Jaroslav Spišiak recently published a photograph of what he claims is the car in which Danko crashed into a traffic light in Dúbravka, Bratislava, on January 11 last year. The photo shows the car (actually a Škoda Superb) after the accident, including its severely damaged front end.
You can send me your tips for good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: kseniia.husieva@spectator.sk. Thank you!
