Active design – working together in the wildlife park - Märkische Schweiz

The Märkische Schweiz wildlife park, 40km to the east of Berlin, offers not only unique natural and cultural landscapes, but also the backdrop to our project. In co-operation with the wildlife park, the “Drei Eichen” environmental education centre and the Märkische lakes LAG, we will not only get to know the park together, but we will also be actively involved in designing it. Young people from the local area will also be invited to help with this task. We will be completing various landscape projects in different natural areas at a number of locations in the Märkische Schweiz wildlife park. On the one hand, we will eliminate the Indian/glandular balsam, especially in particularly sensitive areas (such as embankments, or near the water). The employees of the park’s nature watch will be supporting us with this task. Together with the state forestry company, we will remove conifers from the moor in order to have a positive influence on the water balance, as part of a moorland conservation projects. Besides this, we plan to shred dry grass in order to preserve this particularly sensitive habitat for protected species. By mowing an orchid meadow, we will familiarise ourselves with its historical uses and also get to know this particular habitat. We will also be renewing and repairing sections fn the walking trail around the Klobichsee lake. Together with a local timberman, we will spend several days on this particular task. This area is also home to beavers, so we will be able to admire their own handiwork. We will help on the grounds of the “Drei Eichen” environmental education centre by cleaning up some “wild corners” and reshaping them as habitats for endangered species, such as a cairn for lizards and amphibians, wild bee houses and bat boxes. We will renovate an old trailer as a living space for ourselves and the guests of the environmental centre by plastering a room with clay, which will make it very comfortable. The handicraft and creative work will predominantly take place outdoors. There is an addition registration fee of 50€ for participants who are not from Germany.