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FULL-Eco Tourism at Sahy-Slovakia
Dates: 1st April to 29th April 2010
Number of Participants: 8
Duration: 4 weeks
The DESIRE (Developing Environmental Skills in Rural Europe) placement in Slovakia is hosted by Grampus's long-term partner, the Ipel Union. This NGO was formed in 1992 and has as its primary objective the management of the natural and cultural assets of the Ipel river water catchment. The placement is based in the small south Slovakian village of Ipel'ský Sokolec, near to the Hungarian border. Participants will be living in a traditional farmhouse, the style of which is a Pannonian plain longhouse. They will use a food allowance to purchase and prepare their own food.
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The placement has three main parts:
1. In the village there is a recently established community forest of oak, ash, cherry, willow, hornbeam, field maple, tartar maple, poplar and lime, planted by visitors working with local school children. Attached to the forest is a very small tree nursery. The young forest is to be weeded and have a series of paths established. There is also a survey needed of the flora and fauna.
2. Between the village and the local town of Šahy, there is a forest
of Robinia psuedoaccacia containing a forest spring, with picnic benches.
The forest was recently coppiced and the spring choked with brushwood.
The spring is to be cleared and the picnic benches restored.
3. Close to Šahy and along the Ipel river, which forms the border with Hungary, there is a RAMSAR (wetland) site, managed by the Ipel Union and containing bird-hides, a path and footbridges. After high water in winter, there is routine maintenance work to be carried out to the infrastructure. The RAMSAR is important for birds and fish and there is an opportunity to observe wildlife and undertake simple survey work.
A cultural programme includes the opportunity to go camping further
north in Slovakia in the Low or High Tatras. There are also cultural
visits to Esztergom in Hungary, which is a historical town dating from
Roman times and with an impressive Roman Catholic basilica and Banska
Stiavnica, a UNESCO World Heritage town established in the Medieval
period by German miners.
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There are some interesting local hiking opportunities, including the
32 kilometre trail, which is mainly through oak forest, to the medieval
ruined Cabrad castle. Typical animals in the forest here include red
deer, roe deer, wild boar and beech marten with lynx in the adjacent
Ipoly Duna National Park (over the river in Hungary). There is the opportunity
to visit this Park and meet the ranger.The local people are friendly
and welcoming and are chiefly ethnic Hungarians. Although Slovakian
is the official language, Hungarian is more often spoken on a daily
basis in the village. During their stay in the village participants
might also visit various local vegetable gardens and learn about sustainable
food production - and buy produce from villagers. There is also local
honey and wine production.Participants will most usually fly to Budapest
in neighbouring Hungary and be transferred by taxi into Slovakia. Usually
towards the end of the placement, it is possible to spend a couple of
days sightseeing in Budapest.
Participants on this placement will need good outdoor footwear and
waterproofs. The climate has a very hot summer and cold winter with
a short autumn and spring. Insect repellent is required because much
of the land is swampy and low-lying. A phrasebook with Hungarian as
well as Slovakian is recommended; some local people speak German as
a second language. English is spoken by young people but not usually
by older people.
The Ipel river is good for swimming (with care- always heed local advice)
and fishing.
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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. |