📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
Nature lovers, this workcamp is made for you! Come and help to preserve this exceptional natural site! On the banks of the river, in the middle of small hills, you will enjoy this place in the shade of the Mediterranean sun. In the heart of the valley of the Orb, the Albine area is the symbol of the natural wealth of this region. For more than 30 years, the local ecosystem preservation policies have aimed to transform the site into a Natural Sensitive Area and to acquire land to better protect the natural sensitive areas while allowing the public to walk around. In the last few years, we have been able to work on this site and create a wildlife pond in order to promote biodiversity and renovate an old source.
💼 What the programme involves
You will work on the preservation of a wetland, on a site that includes small dry-stone walls. We have planned two summer work sessions that include landscaping, brushing, handling (and therefore carrying) stones, restoring dry stone walls or performing traditional small masonry tasks. Your mission will be to work on the third phase of this project with technicians specialized in biodiversity in order to rehabilitate an old source.
Our goals are:
- clearing the dry stone wall of vegetation
- finishing clearing the source
- rebuilding the sources supporting walls
- completing the reconstruction of the sources retaining walls
The work is physical but you can also enjoy good moments of relaxation by the river.
🏠 Accommodation on site
You will be accommodated in tents in the municipal camping site of Tarassac in Mons-la-Trivalle, with access to toilets and showers. Tents and floor mats will be provided but you can bring your own if you want to. The group will be sharing the cleaning tasks and preparing meals together. The budget will be allocated to the camp leader and you will participate in the preparation of the meals using good and local products from the market and local producers.
📍 About the location
The workcamp will be located close to Saint Martin de Larçon. The accommodation will be in the municipal camping site of Tarassac down the Bridge Tarassac, in Mons La Trivalle close to the main entrance of the Héric gorges. The communes name means The three valleys mountain and exactly defines the geographical location. Mons La Trivalle is located at the confluence of the three valleys: those of the Héric, Jaur and Orb, in the middle of the Haut Languedoc Regional Natural Park. This is ideal for open air activities such as: hiking, canoeing, VTT, climbing, three climbing and potholing. During the free time you will have the opportunity to discover the cultural heritage of the site (an ancient roman chapel, a mill, a church) and to meet the local artisans and producers.
More information: https://www.ot-caroux.fr/fr/mons-la-trivalle.html and https://www.parc-haut-languedoc.fr/
⚠️ Requirements
When working on site, it is strongly recommended to use gloves and closed, sturdy clothing and shoes. We will lend you personal protective equipment according to the tasks you will be assigned. Nights can sometimes be cool, despite frequent high temperatures during the summer days. Bring a good sleeping bag and specific clothing in case of rain and storms. Do not forget sun protection (hat, glasses, sun cream...) and your swimsuit! Some intercultural and common activities could be organized if you want, so please feel free to bring some cultural stuff from your own country (food, recipes, stories or dances)!
Volunteers belonging to the European Union must bring with them a personal EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), and everybody should, in any case, bring their own insurance certificate. If health issues happen on the project, volunteers will have to pay for it, and then be reimbursed once back in their home country.