The island of Seurasaari features diverse habitats, including natural coastal forests, herb-rich forests with valuable flora, ponds, smooth rocks and a coastal meadow, which is a protected habitat type. The area’s flora is very diverse in places, particularly in the south-east part of the island.

The City of Helsinki purchased the island of Seurasaari, which was called Fölis at the time, in the 1870s. Prior to this the island belonged to Meilahti Farm and was used as a cow pasturage. In 1889, Helsingin Anniskeluyhtiö, a company specialising in the sale of alcoholic beverages, established a folk park on the island, five years after the establishment of Helsinki Zoo.