Endzele Manor Park

The Endzeles Park is a dendrological park located in the Endzeles Village of the Jeru Parish. It was created in the 1970s near the historical garden of the Endzeles Manor. The dendrological park was created and tended by the former director of the Jeru Elementary School – Modris Kalniņš. The school was in operation here between 1922 and 2015. The planting material was taken from the best nurseries in Latvia, and the greatest support was received from the Salaspils Botanic Garden. Dendrological plantation contains approximately 80 species of trees. The species such as red leaf maples, cedar pines, European larches, Canadian oak, various birch subspecies, etc. are represented here. Both the old and the new park territory at the Jeru Elementary School was actively used as the “Green Biology Room”. Plantations were supplemented with time. New apple-trees were planted in the historical orchard of the manor. Some trees on the territory of the dendrological plantations of the Endzeles Manor are rarely found not only in Northern Vidzeme, but also on the entire territory of Latvia.

The Sudnas, later the Endzeles (Henselshof) Manor was founded in 1560. In 1690, the manor land was reduced in size, and in 1840, the manor was passed onto the Engelhart family.

In 1880, Voldemar Gustav von Krüdener built here the masters’ building of the Endzeles Manor, which had its own tower, various facade decorations and even the sculptures placed on the brackets. Gothic motives in the building were subjected to aesthetics of the brick facture, masonry and large planes. The manor is located on a mound that did not initially exist in nature. It was created by peasants bringing earth in their carts and creating an artificial terrain elevation. A splendid park and an abundant orchard was arranged around the manor. The Endzele Manor park was planted in the way to ensure that a splendid landscape could be seen from each manor window. An orchard fenced by stone walls was located on the southern side of the manor. The Ornäs birch (Betula dalecarlica L.) was growing on the Northeast side of the old park manor, on the slope of the mound, and remained there until the nineties of the 20th century, while some pyramidal oaks and huge lindens still can be seen around the manor.
In 1928-1929, the pupils created a terrace in front of the manor, levelling off the steep slope and planting greenery. Wooden steps were placed on both sides of the terrace.
At the end of 1940s (times of collective farming), a road was made through the old park as a continuation of the road passing through the old oak alley from the Rujiena-Valmiera Highway to the Endzeles Manor. In 1971, the road was constructed and paved.
In 1956, the pupils created a large flowerbed of wintergreens in front of the manor near the large chestnut-tree, growing there already since the times of the manor.
In 1969, a dendrological part was created on the southeast side of the school (manor) in the area of 2 ha. It was created based on the greenery composition principles – at the same time for beauty reasons and for observation during biology and labour classes.
A rock garden was made on the slope between the school and the new road, laying it with dolomite slabs, thus simulating a natural outcrop. A footpath of concrete slabs with two parallel bends was constructed from the school doors across the slope. A miniature rosary – a narrow rose bed, contrasting with the grey concrete and even lawn was created between them. It was the beginning.
In 1969 – 1972, the Endzeles Manor forest park was cleaned. 85 species of trees and bushes were growing in the old and new park, in the total area of 9 ha.
In 1969, the new collective farm park was planted. The workshops of the collective farm “Straume” were protected from the harsh Northern wind by 300 m long rows of larches, white larches and lindens. Rare species of maple trees, oaks and larches were growing on the park territory. It was a present of pioneers of 1970s to their village.

Various rare and interesting trees are growing on the territory of the dendrological park in the area of 2 ha: sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus); silver maple (Acer saccharinum f. Laciniatum); boxelder maple (Acer negundo L.); the Amur maple (Acer ginnala Maxim.); the Northern red oak  (Quercus rubra L.); Crimean linden (Tilia x euchlora K. Koch); bigleaf linden (Tilia platyphyllos) “Rubra”; Amur cork tree (Phellodendron amurense); vēlā ieva (Tree of black cherry); chokecherry (Padus virginiana); bird cherry tree (Padus maackii (Rupr.) Kom.); Japanese walnut (Juglans ailantifolia); Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (mirb.) Franco var. menziesii); Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce Griseb.); the Japanese larch (Larix kaempheri); Ledebourii larch (Larix ledebourii (Rupr.) Cin.).

During the recent years, the park was supplemented with fruit trees and an alley of 26 species of lilac trees.

The last owner of the manor was Edgar von Krüdener, whose grandchildren still visit the manor in summers. The Jeru Parish Administration and a library is currently located in the Endzeles Manor.