The last weekend of May was dedicated to Notranjska Park. We organized the event Days of Notranjska Park for the fourth year in a row. During the event, several activities took place, cheering up the youngest, as well as the eldest visitors.
The date for the event is symbolic, since on May 24 we mark the European Day of Parks, which aims to celebrate protected areas throughout Europe and emphasize the significance of natural wonders, conserved in these parks. It also emphasizes the importance of conserving these areas and implementing a sustainable way of managing them.
The programme was split into two parts – on Saturday it was dedicated to culture, and on Sunday it was dedicated to everyone and everything.
On Saturday, Saša Pavček took children on a journey into the magical world of the lake at an idyllic location by Cerknica Lake. Afterwards, the children created drawings with fountain pens, made out of reeds. In the evening, the folk group Jezerska tršca and their guests performed at the church of St. Peter in village Dolenje Jezero.
Sunday was dedicated to the promotion of nature, nature activities and awareness of the importance and special features of the area, as well as activities for children. Early in the morning many went birdwatching under the guidance of an ornithologist. They witnessed and helped with bird ringing. In terms of bird protection, Lake Cerknica is one of the most important areas in Europe. More than 300 bird species have been observed here, which is more than half of all European species. For this reason, the lake is an ornithologist’s paradise. Hikers were able to choose from a hike to the karstic cave Velika Karlovica, where the water of rivers Cerkniščica and Stržen flow, or a hike on the beekepers’ education trail, where they could taste honey delicacies. Cycling fans took part in a 20 km long trip to the picturesque valley Rakov Škocjan.
Local tourist farms, associations and institutions dealing with nature conservation, tourism or cultural heritage were invited to participate. Local craftsmen presented themselves and their products at the stalls at the event, and local culinary providers took care of the refreshment under the tent.
In the tree shades at an idyllic location by Cerknica Lake, we prepared a special corner, dedicated to the LIFE project. We presented the activities and goals of the project and informed people on the significance of nature conservation. The youngest visitors could meet the mysterious bird Bittern and capture it in drawings. Visitors of the LIFE corner were also able to discover the mysterious creatures, living in Cerknica Lake (invertebrates), which usually go unnoticed, even though they are incredibly important for the ecosystem.
Throughout the day, visitors could rent canoes and bicycles, try themselves in archery and find their way through the Scouts polygon. They were also able to take part in various workshops, such as producing stamps, fairy-tale reading and face painting.
We prepared an exhibition of drawings and photographs, submitted by children for the creative competition “Winter on the Lake” and presented the competition winners with their awards.
