Pikeliai and Lūšė communities are growing near Mažeikiai wind farm

Pikeliai and Lūšė are located in Mažeikiai district and have wind turbines spinning nearby. Towns with just couple of hundred residents have active communities that are taking care of their environment, cherish their history and welcome everyone. The Samogitian branch of the Camino Lituano begins in Pikeliai and continues through Lūšė, welcoming pilgrims. In recent years, Ignitis Renewables, a leading green energy company in the Baltics, has contributed to this growth. The company knows locals not only as neighbours, but also as partners.

The community centre is the heart of Pikeliai.

Travelling through unfamiliar parts of our country can sometimes bring very pleasant surprises. Upon entering Pikeliai, a town wittily referred to by locals as the smallest town in Lithuania, you are greeted by an idyllic landscape where nature and innovative green energy solutions form a true harmony.

Jadvyga Gedutienė is a Pikeliai guide, so she probably knows more about this region than any other local resident. When asked what is worth visiting first in Pikeliai, the woman names the Holy Trinity Church, which has seven wooden altars, the surviving monument to Vytautas the Great, and the nearby monument commemorating the victims of the plague.

The town guide mentions the church for a reason as it is the pride of the Pikeliai community. The Holy Trinity Church in Pikeliai, built in 1752, is considered one of the most impressive wooden Baroque churches in Lithuania and the only one with seven altars. The interior of this church is one of the most beautiful and traditional in Lithuania. It is a unique wooden architecture monument, the likes of which are few and far between.

However, it is best to start the tour of the area at the Pikeliai community centre, which Jadvyga and her husband Danielius Gedutis kindly agreed to show us around. When entering the building, it is evident that it has recently undergone renovation. “In 2019, after the nursery school was closed, these premises remained unused and abandoned. So, the residents of the Pikeliai community decided to renovate the premises," says Danielius, former chair of the community Kuriame Kartu. Now, this cosy environment hosts gatherings for various occasions and welcomes Camino Lituano pilgrims for overnight stays.

Financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables has helped make the local park the most popular place

Anyone visiting the town of Pikeliai will surely notice the wind turbines of Ignitis Renewables spinning nearby. When asked, what residents think about such neighbour, Danielis suggests us to look around. “The Pikeliai town has around 30 stork nests, which means that wind turbines have no negative impact on nature. Ignitis Renewables is important to our community because this neighbour contributes significantly to making the town more beautiful and the wellbeing of its residents,” he says.

The Samogitian branch of Camino Lituano starts near the church. It is marked by a stand with useful information. “Usually people go on foot, but there's also a few who prefer bicycles. We used the financial support granted by Ignitis Renewables to install a bicycle repair stop to make it more convenient. It can be used by both community members and anyone who wanders over to our land,” says Jadvyga.

Ignitis Renewables helped implement several more projects that benefited the community. For example, an alley leading to the monument for the Vytautas the Great has been installed in the town park and illuminated by solar batteries. “We have a smart bench which the youth loves because it can charge smart devices. Additionally, the visiting tourists and pilgrims can enjoy listening to the town’s history while resting on the bench. We have also published a book about Pikeliai and erected a Pikeliai sign,” Danielius tells us. The former community chair laughs that once the lights and benches were installed, parents couldn't get their children to come home, and the town park became one of the most popular places for young people to spend their free time.

Lūšė – a small town brimming with life

As in most small Lithuanian towns, the community centre is the first place to visit when coming to Lūšė. “Years ago, the building served as a school, but it has been closed for two decades. So, the Lūšė community decided to use the building for its own needs. We are glad to have a home for the community. We take care of it and try to make it as welcoming as possible to all,” says Agnė Petreikienė, chair of the Lūšė community.

“Lūšė has around 200 residents. It's not much, but we have no empty houses here. And people often visit us, be it someone’s children or grandchildren. It is brimming with life here,” says Petreikienė. According to our interviewee, the town's community is small but very united. The residents are striving to build a sense of community through celebrations, gatherings, performances and other engaging activities.

Some are exercising in fresh air as the town has outdoor gym equipment, while other play in the small basketball and volleyball court. Ignitis Renewables helped the community to install solar-powered lighting, so young people can spend time here in the evenings too.

“The community has a strong relationship with Ignitis Renewables. The company's representatives take an interest in the daily life of the surrounding towns and contribute to creating a more beautiful environment. After receiving the funds from Ignitis Renewables, we installed 15 streetlights. Four of them were installed next to the community centre, so not only the basketball and volleyball courts are illuminated, but also the stage we built with our own hands. The remaining streetlights were installed in the most famous part of the village, the Stotis Street, where a monument for freedom fighters stands,” tells us Petreikienė.

“Pikeliai and Lūšė clearly showcase that renewables can unite and coexist harmoniously with people. Powered by residents’ ideas, work and joint initiatives, spaces alongside wind farms come to life. This is also true when it comes to the activities they organise. Every tidied corner, every celebration and every book published becomes a sign of shared energy that strengthens the place. It is important for us to be neighbours who not only produce green energy, but also help to create vibrant, active communities,” says Emilija Musteikytė, Communities Engagement Team Lead at Ignitis Renewables.

Pikeliai and Lūšė are an example of wind energy producing good neighbours. The communities located near Ignitis Renewables’ wind farm in Mažeikiai have been growing and developing for several years now while receiving financial support from the wind farm's developer. Over three years, financial support granted for projects of the Lūšė and Pikeliai communities amounts to over EUR 87,000 in total.