Wildlife and Crops – Working Together in the Nature Park

If you are enthusiastic about nature and protecting the environment, the come to the Märkische Schweiz Nature Park: 40km to the east of Berlin, the park not only offers unique natural and cultural landscapes, but also the backdrop to our project. By working together with the park’s administration team and the Drei Eichen environmental education centre, you will not only get to know the park and its surroundings, but you will also play an active role in shaping it. There will also be young people from the local area on-site. We will be completing various landscape projects in different natural areas at a number of locations in the Märkische Schweiz nature park. The aim is to protect and promote both the dry or wet locations, their soil and the native plants that grow there. Historically, these locations were created and maintained through a lot of manual mowing, seasoning and grazing by sheep and goats. In this project, you will be contributing to this process. You will also be renewing sections of hiking trails. There are also beavers making their homes in the park, which you will be able to admire while you work. We also grow tomato, pepper and aubergine plants on the grounds of the Drei Eichen centre every summer, but the summer is often not long and warm enough to bring them to full ripeness. We would therefore like to build a lean-to greenhouse together on one of the houses. This would give the crops a warm summer "corner" and the provide a year-round warmth to the house, as long as the sun is shining. The Drei Eichen centre, with all its grounds, offers many opportunities to learn about plants and animals, nature conservation and alternative ways of life and to help with everyday work. Whether you are landscaping, working with your hands or helping with creative design; all work will take place outdoors. Besides this, there will be a diverse programme of environmental educational activities for you to take part in! http://www.dreichen.de/