Workshop with the young people from the FOREST project for recognizing tree and shrub species

Interreg – IPA CBC Bulgaria – Serbia Programme CCI Number 2014TC16I5CB007

The activities of the young people from the FOREST project related to the identification of wild plants and their habitats continued last week (October 2-4, 2020). This time their attention was focused on collecting materials from tree and shrub species from the forests of the Etropole Stara Planina and the Heavenly Pastures Park, Osikovitsa village. Under the guidance of experts from BAS and Sofia University, our young people managed to find over 75 different species.

In the on-line meetings, they presented their findings in an attractive way (through videos and photos) to their peers from Serbia. In turn, the Serbian youth also pleasantly surprised them with their rich collection of species and the way they presented it – an author’s song.

The preparation of the herbariums coincided with another interesting event in Etropole similar in theme and spirit – an open air of artists dedicated to the plants and the unique nature around the city. The artists were impressed by the diligence of the young people from the FOREST project and the beautiful exhibits they collected. This unexpected meeting between science and art, between youth and maturity on the paths of late autumn imperceptibly reminded of all the verses of the great local poet-symbolist Hristo Yassenov

“On pretty trees and flower crowns
the dawn spread transparent hair.
And drop by drop the dew is falling –
drop by drop,
drop by drop –
transparent and pure dew.

The earth wakes up and the sun sees –
the earth shrouded in black sadness.
And thrill after thrill fades away –
thrill after thrill,
thrill after thrill –
on her weary body.

The sky rejoices and looks proudly –
it looks space infinitely wide.
And word by word the soul orders –
word by word,
word by word –
praise to the eternal God ”

Project “For everyone saved a tree (FOREST)” №CB007.2.32.170 is co-funded by EU through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria–Serbia Programme.

This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union through the Interreg-IPA CBC Bulgaria-Serbia Programme, CCI No 2014TC16I5CB007. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of YMDRAB and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union or the Managing Authority of the Programme.