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Germany: Dübener Heide Nature Park
Dates: 7th July to 11th August 2008
Number of participants: 8
Because of the date of the annual 'wood festival' at the end of July, we would like the students to arrive in Germany to incorporate this. The placement will commence in summer 2008 (5 weeks). The wood festival will be the last weekend in July and to coincide with this event, Peter Kaiser (our principle host) is offering a 7 to 10 day long training / work experience action on 'forest art'. It will involve going to the forest to select a tree / log / wood, for making an art work, working with local artists (especially Wolfgang Köppe) and then positioning the artwork at a forest recreation site. The idea is to use sustainable natural products and make some sort of environmental statement or promotion.
The remainder of the content revolves around practical nature conservation in the Dübener Heide Naturpark, including heathland and forest management, working at a village arboretum, making interpretation boards and signs, working on school conservation projects, etc. There will also be the possibility to work on a local Agenda 21 type project, using local and natural materials to build heritage reconstructions (Saxon houses, etc.) to demonstrate sustainability.
In previous placements there has been a chance to visit Berlin, Dresden and Leipzig and even Prague in the neighbouring Czech Republic.
Read the report by Marie-Gabrielle Marty - A participant on the Germany DESIRE placement in 2005
The common theme of the 'DESIRE' placements is to develop practical environmental skills which can also improve and develop forest recreation projects. Suggestions so far include; developing mountain bike trails, creating forest trails and footpaths, building and developing countryside furniture, creating bird-hides with natural materials and more... More details, dates and images for each of these opportunities will be posted here soon.
You can contact Grampus now to express you interest in the project or request more information on the individual placement opportunities. To be eligible to participate in a placement, applicants must be registered on a relevant course of study in the UK.
CLICK HERE for the printable Application Form
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NOTE: Participants on all of our placements will now require a European Health Insurance CARD (EHIC). CLICK HERE to visit the external website and apply for your EHIC online. |
