A biosphere safari offers unforgettable insights into the nature, culture and history of the region. Last year, a group of young adults and pupils from Mandelbachtal School, together with their dedicated teacher Karin Lambert, shared this experience on a discovery tour. On foot and by bus, the friendly and knowledgeable nature and landscape guide Andreas Christian Schröder led the group through the Bliesgau biosphere.
After a walk through the weekly market in St. Ingbert with lots of inspiration about the "urban-rural relationship" and shopping by the pupils for their biosphere cookery club, the group travelled by public transport to Heckendalheim. In the educational garden of the fruit and horticultural association, they marvelled at the wild service tree as a tree for future generations. Interesting educational materials from the landscape guide's bulging bag were used time and again to illustrate the learning content. Some examples of this are the fruit of the wild service tree and fossilised ammonites from shell limestone, which could be felt. The photo of the "Styrian Fanghaft", a net-winged butterfly, was a sensation. This was thought to have been lost for 42 years and was photographed again for the first time on a house wall in Heckendalheim.
The hike to Biolandhof Wack and later to Biesingen was very entertaining. The ambitious nature and landscape guide kept everyone's attention and conveyed information "all about the biosphere" very vividly. The nettle was discovered, described as a "medicinal herb" and "the oldest fibre plant of mankind". Andreas Christian Schröder's scarf, which was transformed by hand from wild nettle fibres into a unique piece, could be touched to illustrate this. The young people he referred to as "guests" were involved in the topic. For example, Paula showed the others "the eyebrow of Venus", a leaf of the sheep's gift, and Tobias told the interested group about a biogas project that he had carried out last year in cooperation with the "Young Biosphere".
Before taking the bus back to St. Ingbert in the afternoon, everyone enjoyed delicious pancakes filled with lentils and served with a leaf salad at the Bellevue restaurant.
The chairman of the association, District Administrator Dr Theophil Gallo, confirms the value of such educational programmes: "The young people go on a discovery tour of the Bliesgau together and learn quite casually what a biosphere reserve is and what it means to live here. A good example of a sustainable educational programme that is fun."
The trip was organised by the Saarpfalz district's Coordination Office for Sustainable Youth Work and financed by the Saarpfalz district and the Saarpfalz District Savings Bank Foundation for Culture and the Environment.
Further information on the Coordination Centre for Sustainable Youth Work, "Young Biosphere" project, is available from Sandra Klingler, Tel. (06842) 9600921, e-mail: [email protected]
Caption: Andreas Christian Schröder showing picture cards, a
utensil from his bulging shoulder bag. Photo Safari_Wundertasche: Sandra Klingler
Caption: Paula Jakob demonstrates the leaves of the yarrow as
"Eyebrow of Venus" Photo Safari_Eyebrow: Sandra Klingler