In 2018, the HSPN utilized part of the donations given in Konstantinos Mitsotakis’ memory, in order to create the Botanical Garden of medicinal and aromatic plants of Creta, in collaboration with the Holy Monastery of Chryssopigi in Chania. The Garden is located near Varipetro Kydonias in Chania, in a verdant valley between the church of Aghia Kyriaki and the Metamorphosis Monastery in "Kastellos". The area for the Botanical Garden was kindly granted by the Holy Sisterhood of Chryssopigi in Chania. The purpose is both the protection and promotion of the Cretan medicinal and aromatic plants, as well as the functioning of the Botanical Garden as an educational space for visitors and school students.
In addition, the Botanical Garden will be able to be the starting point of the hiking route, which, starting from the valley of the monasteries, will be crossing the White Mountains.
The valley, which is protected from grazing, hosts 335 species of plants (almost 1/5th of the rich Cretan flora, which in total reaches 1740 species of plants) and 21 endemic ones. The valley is surrounded by caves and hermitages and is defined by the two monasteries of Aghia Kyriaki and Metamorphosis, as well as the impressive Cretan landscape. Within 9 months, a Garden was formed in the valley featuring 60 types of herbs, whose planting material was either collected from the Cretan land, after a special permission, or it was granted by certified nurseries of the Chania Forestry, or even by individuals. On the surrounding paths, 40 more species of existing herbs and other interesting plants of Crete, even endemic ones, have also been recorded. Through this project, the connection of the Cretan flora with our tradition has been highlighted. The cultural and religious heritage, as well as the geological profile of Crete, come from the antient times and they are all more than obvious.
The Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature collaborated with botanists, horticulturists, as well as garden architects from the Chloroplastes Group, and was supported by the Chryssopigi Sisterhood of Chania, the Konstantinos K. Mitsotakis Foundation and the Forestry of Chania, under the scientific supervision of the botanist Dr. Irini Vallianatou, in order to make the idea of the Botanical Garden come true. The Garden was inaugurated in June 2019, and after that, the maintenance and renewal of its planting material was being carried out until June 2022 by the corporation of Dretakis Georgios Horticulture, under the scientific supervision of HSPN.
