GREECE
EXPLORING THE FOREST OF HORTIATIS
Hortiatis mountain, with its highest peak rising at 1.200m, dominates the city of Thessaloniki – snow capped in the winter, cool and refreshing in the summer.
The forest of Hortiatis is the nearest natural forest to the city, only 20km from the centre. It is a unique <lung> for over a million inhabitants and attracts visitors who enjoy the serenity of nature all year round.
Vegetation abounds in this forest but it is mainly a forest of chestnut, oak and beech trees.
On Sunday 6th November 2011- a fine autumn day- the Greek team of the “Forest for all-all for forest” project , in collaboration with the “ Movement of the citizens of Hortiatis ” and the agriculturalist Mrs Nana Hatziathanasiadou, member of caretakers, explored the mountain.
Mr Babis Nanakoudis, on behalf of the movement, orientated, guided and informed us about the importance of the forest and the dangers that threaten it such as hunting, littering and the irrational and irregular sprawling of the city.
Mrs Nana Hatziathanasiadou and Mrs Dina Tamoutseli, both Grundvig project members and experts on plants and herbs helped us identify them and enlightened us about how some of them like Verbascum thapsus,
Achillea millefolium, Colchicum autumnale and Urtica dioica are used in treatment.
Especially Achillea plants were in full bloom, covering the ground with a purple rug.
We tasted the small but delicious chestnuts, we saw the places where they used to make ice when there were no refrigerators and we were enchanted by the beautiful colours of the Autumn – green, yellow, orange and purple. Colours and scents everywhere.
It is undoubtedly worth visiting it.
By the end of the day we all felt rejuvenated!
For the Greek team
Anthoula Hatzitheodorou
POLAND
Let's support bees
In September 2011 we organized in the center of Podkowa Leśna the Educational Picnic for all, who wanted to invite a bee to the garden. The aim of the event was to promote an ecological way of living, close to the nature and in a good relationship with the environment. Bees are the important part of our ecosystem. We supplied visiting people with bee-plants and basic knowledge about these useful insects. About 100 sidlings were distributed among inhabitants of Podkowa Leśna and Brwinów. It means that our gardens will be more beautiful, fragrant and friendly for the bees!
Ironically, at the the end of the Picnic President of our Association, Mrs. Anna Łukasiewicz was sticked by the bee. Anna declared that it would’ have any influence on her attitude to the bee family and the project “Let’s support bees” will be continuing!
