Manjakkudi is home to a variety of flora and some very attractive fauna. The idea of having a micro forest in the sprawling educational campus at Manjakkudi was to instill the importance of afforestation and to make the overall environment healthy and free from pollutants.
Dayavanam is a forest garden created by Swami Dayananda Educational Trust. This microforest is spread over 4 acres and over 80% of the plants in this forest garden are edible or useful in other ways.
Carefully designed, the trees are planted in such a way that the plants benefit each other as they would in a natural woodland. The canopy layer of trees protect shade loving plants and lower growing plants and nitrogen fixing plants also find a place at Dayavanam.
The microforest atmosphere attracts birds, insects and microorganisms which thrive in this garden. Cared for by the garden team of the Trust, Dayavanam is a soulful three dimensional forest garden, where one learns the importance of sustainability and discovers a rich oasis of bio diversity.
In terms of planting drive and activity, special focus and emphasis has been on varieties native to the region.
A Lush and Green Canopy
Creeper Plants – 9
Edible Trees –35
Flowering Plants – 16
Flowering Trees – 15
Medicinal Value Trees – 19
Shade Trees – 13
Timber Value Trees – 7
