Shaping nature: the interplay of gardens and forests in Russia

Abstract

The Russian forest has long been an integral part of Russian cultural identity, shaping its cultural narratives and literary imagination. From the dense taiga to the mysterious birch groves, these natural landscapes constitute a boundary space where human existence is placed in stark contrast to the vastness of nature. This article focuses on the transformation of natural environments in Russia, examining how Russia has negotiated its relationship with nature through the dialectical interplay of cultivated (gardens) and wild (forests). The interplay between gardens and forests in Russian culture reflects a dialectic of domination and submission. Gardens as human engineered landscape, curated expressions of human control, embody symbols of cultural power and social order onto nature, to frame nature to reflect humanity’s pursuit of aesthetics and control, While gar- dens offer a domesticated experience of nature, they remain a functional and safe compromise, reflecting a utilitarian relationship with nature. In contrast, forests persist as sites of untamed wilderness that challenge and reshape these imposed structures, embodying the national spirit and humanity’s longing for the unknown. By analysing the historical background, cultural significance, and contemporary practices in ecological restoration, This article demonstrates how this dynamic tension between the cultivated and the wild has fundamentally shaped Russia’s ecological identity, the article shows how efforts to shape nature through gardens exist along-side a cultural belief that deeply respects the forest's independence, while also revealing their changing roles in environmental culture.