Here are the stories about the activities of the Bulgarian EVS volunteers: Lyubomira Lyubomirova and Velislava Shishkova during ESC project at Ecofarm Ostrov, Veľký Lél, Slovakia
Host organisation: BROZ (Bratislava Regional Association for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development) www.broz.sk/en
About BROZ: BROZ is a conservation NGO focused on practical nature conservation and restoration of areas around the Danube river. We focus our conservation activities on Danube river restoration, restoration of water regime of river branches and adjacent wetlands. We make effort to conserve Danube floodplain meadows, to restore traditional management of pollard willows, mowing, grazing of cattle and reed cutting. Many of these activities are implemented on Veľký Lél Island, our flagship site, which is one of the largest and the last preserved Danube islands in Slovakia. We use the island for environmental education activities, workshops and develop soft nature tourism in the area.
About the project: EVS project takes place at Ecofarm Ostrov, 10 min walk from the island. The farm is used as a base for our conservation and education activities on the island and in the area. Volunteers have an opportunity to participate in a variety of different activities from practical nature conservation, environmental education, work around the farm, different craftwork such as wood-work and promotion of the locality and our activities online and visiting tourists.
Amphibian monitoring with a researcher from the Comenius University Faculty of Natural Sciences
Creating a herb spiral garden at the camping at Ecofarm Ostrov – herbs will be used by the bufet for making fresh lemonades and can be used by guests of the camping area
Improving small touristic infrastructure at the farm and at the Veľkolélsky island protected landscape area
Restoring old maringotka at the camping site used for longer-term stays by researchers, wildlife photographers and other guests of the island
Trip to the Neusiedler See Natural Park in Austria organized by BROZ staff for the volunteers to do birdwatching
Learning to care for farm animals, milk goats and make home-made cheese
Taking part in the workshop for Osmoderma Eremita monitoring. Learning how to do this type of insect monitoring and helping with monitoring of selected areas
Helping BROZ staff with caring for trees planted at a project locality to serve as bio corridors for wildlife
Monitoring Lanius minor bird species at a protected bird area
Learning to ride horses at the Island with the partner organization Zlatý Hucul
Helping with the organization of Horse Day – horseriding competition at the island
