We carry on planting “Sofia’s New Forest” — 14 November
Join us on 14 November in Bankya to plant the future. Every tree is a step towards a greener, cleaner Sofia. Sign up by 12 November.
Surya Foundation invites you to a new volunteer tree-planting action, part of “Sofia’s New Forest” — a long-running Sofia Municipality project that reforests unused land on the city’s edges.
Together we can turn empty ground into green space that will serve nature and people for decades.
When and where
Saturday, 14 November 2026, 10:00–12:30.
Bankya, above the Mihaylovo neighbourhood, near the Divotino Monastery, in the area known as Martvaka.
The spot on Google Maps: see the map
Saplings and tools are provided by Sofia Municipality. So we can organise the day properly, please sign up in advance. Deadline: Thursday 12 November.
Getting there
By car: the planting site is reachable by car. Sofia Municipality has put up signs along the way.
By public transport: for this initiative, Sofia Municipality and the Urban Mobility Centre run a temporary bus line No. 40 connecting Bankya bus station with the planting site. It runs on 14 November too, the day of our action.
It starts at “Avtostantsiya Bankya” and ends at “Novata gora – Bankya”, the planting area itself, and carries passengers both ways. Check the current timetable in advance.
Why we plant a new forest
This is the third year Surya Foundation and its volunteers have supported “Sofia’s New Forest”, planting young trees alongside the municipality.
We are continuing in the Bankya area, where 47,000 saplings are planned across 189 decares. Our aim is to contribute as many planted trees as we can.
Forests clean the air, create habitats for plants and animals and improve the place we live in. Every tree planted is a small but real step towards a healthier, more liveable city.
We need volunteers to help plant the young saplings. Beyond doing something useful for nature, the day is a good reason to spend a few hours outdoors with people who share the same values.
Advice for volunteers
- No experience needed — willingness and good spirits are enough.
- Bring enough drinking water and something to eat.
- Dress warmly and in layers so you can adjust to the weather and the work. Long trousers, a warm outer layer and a hat are a good idea.
- Wear sturdy, comfortable shoes with good grip, suitable for uneven and possibly muddy ground.
- Bring a backpack with your personal essentials.
- Look after your safety and health. Every volunteer takes part at their own responsibility and should match the physical effort to their own condition. Consider mountain insurance as an extra precaution.
Come and plant the future with us. Every sapling and every volunteer counts.
Sign up by 12 November through the volunteer form.