The Forest department, under the project, aims to plant saplings of tree species which will have profound influence on functioning of human brain, on seven acres of school land.

Range Forest Officer Tadagani V Ganesh told Deccan Herald, “This (Saraswati Vana) is a first-of-its-kind park in Bengaluru. There are other vanas like Kadamba Vana, Panchavathi Vana and Ashoka Vana. Native tree species, which have a positive influence on the cerebrum, are being planted to help students at Saraswathi Vana. Some anti-depressant plants are also being planted like Seeta Ashoka. There will be sacred groves like Sampige, Ashoka, Kadamba and Panchavati. A pergola for students to have discussions and interactions will also be constructed,” the RFO added.

Over 300 saplings of various tree species are being planted. The plantation is being done involving students. The whole area will be dedicated to Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. The trees are being chosen and planted in such a manner that it will have a holistic influence on children and the people. The park will also have a rainwater harvesting system. Indigenous tree species are being planted instead of deciduous and leaf-shedding varieties. All five varieties of Ficus like Alla, Atti and Gonne are also being planted. This will ensure fruiting all year round.

The RFO said that the Forest department faced some stiff opposition for its Saraswati Vana from the villagers initially. “When the Forest department and the school management embarked on the plantation drive on school land, they cleared the full-grown Silver Oak trees on the school boundary. The residents of Routhanahalli demanded that the money received from the sale of timber be given to the village. But the Forest dept handed over the money to school management to use it for augmenting infrastructure in the school. Now, the villagers have joined hands with the department for Saraswati Vana. In fact, some of them have volunteered to erect barbed-fencing around Saraswati Vana, RFO Ganesh said.