Mr. Greenwood revisited Yanagiyato where he visited 2 years ago. He heard this palace was converted to the Satoyama Park by Kanagawa Prefectural Government. Satoyama means hilly place surrounding rice paddy. Many rice paddy was abandoned due to low grain price caused by globalization of the market. We can find many once rice paddy was now covered by wild plants.
Local government decided to convert those placed to more civilized park for local community.
Entrance to the Park
We found thick forest almost disappeared. We entered remaining forest because it was more comfortable there.
remaining forest
In the abandoned rice paddy, we found many Japanese pampas grass, bulrush and tall goldenrod.
field full of Japanese pampas grass, bulrush and tall goldenrod
An egret was catching aquatic insect in the remaining rice paddy.
egret
We have to wait more 10 years until newly planted tree grows in the developed garden.
2001/10/25