20th of May 2025, late in morning. I look at the lighthouse overhanging the endless North Sea. The sun is at its zenith. From the cape of the Kullaberg peninsula, where I stand, I can catch sight of the small town of Mölle, far away.

That is where I realised: being an IVY Volunteer has taken me places that I had never thought I would go – and not just physically.

Being a volunteer at EUROPARC

My way to supporting people and nature has been to devote my time and energy for the GREENHEALTH project, through the Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY) programme.

The latter allows young people to contribute to Interreg projects and programmes for a maximum of six months. I joined the team of the EUROPARC Federation, the advisory partner of GREENHEALTH, in Regensburg, Germany. My work focused on communication: editing videos, creating visuals for social media and updating the website were part of my daily tasks all along my time as volunteer.

The essential support of volunteers in nature conservation projects

All throughout Europe, volunteering initiatives are allowing people to connect with nature and support others. Two EUROPARC members are also highlighted within the GREENHEALTH project as ‘Good Practices‘ that can serve as inspiration for other across Europe. In the Murcia region of Spain, over the past six years, 350 volunteers from the association Zancadas sobre Ruedas have enabled people with disabilities to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor activities through the use of adapted wheelchairs. In the Kullaberg Nature Reserve in Sweden, a volunteer programme has been established to address challenges related to visitor management, littering, and trail maintenance. Volunteers received training in nature conservation and cultural heritage, providing them with skills to educate visitors on how to respect and care for the area.

In these two inspiring measures, the key driving forces are the volunteers, individuals who dedicate their time and energy to support both people and nature. While not financially compensated, they gain experience, new skills and a sense of purpose by belonging to a new community. The value of volunteers cannot be underestimated, and it is necessary to recognise their significance at all stages of work: whether it is in the management of the project, or directly in the field implementing conservation measures.

Volunteering as a way to experience European cooperation

GREENHEALTH has been an opportunity to experience actual European cooperation. I had the chance to participate in an Interregional Learning Workshop in Sweden, where we gathered with all the partners of the project. It was a delight to join such an international group, learning from each other’s culture, celebrating our differences and sharing our common values. Participating in the workshop made me realise once again the importance of European cooperation: one can draw inspiration from foreign practices, learn from stakeholders coming from a different country and a different context, while being all in pursuit of shared goals. I discovered inspiring initiatives implemented by the Kullaberg Nature Reserve to foster accessibility and inclusivity to nature, one of the main focuses of the GREENHEALTH project. Particularly inspiring were Kullaberg’s all-terrain wheelchairs allowing people with disabilities to hike, as well as a newly adapted trail for visually impaired visitors with multiple sensors.

A chapter filled with learning

My period as an IVY volunteer at EUROPARC allowed me to engage in a meaningful project while gaining new communication skills, professional experience in an international environment, dive into German culture, and last but not least, it allowed me to discover a whole new range of possibilities to better link nature, health and well-being.

Don’t hesitate to choose motivated young people to support nature conservation project through the IVY programme and of course, don’t hesitate to volunteer!

Article and photos from Océane Bailly, IVY Volunteer at EUROPARC for the Interreg Europe GREENHEALTH project from February to July 2025

We are delighted to welcome the Public Institution for Nature of Međimurje County, in Croatia, as a new member of the EUROPARC Federation. Their dedicated work across monitoring, restoration, education, and international partnerships is a model for how local action can drive nature conservation at a European scale.

From Monitoring to Active Restoration

Međimurje Nature

The team in Međimurje has recently completed an intensive period of monitoring, research, and management planning for their protected areas. Now, they are moving into hands-on conservation: from meadow restoration to the removal of invasive alien species.

Upcoming efforts will also focus on river habitat restoration, particularly in the cross-border area of the Mura River. These direct field actions bring the strongest sense of impact, showing how science-based planning translates into visible improvements for biodiversity.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Education is at the heart of their mission. The Visitor Centre “Between Two Waters” and Matulov Grunt serve as hubs for connecting people with nature. These centres are not only gateways to protected areas, but also vibrant spaces for workshops, camps, and community events.

Children and young people are a key audience. Through engaging programmes, the Institution spreads a vital message:
🌿 Nature can do without humans — but humans cannot do without nature.

Balancing Education and Protection

Međimurje Nature

Designing trails, interpretive materials, and visitor infrastructure requires careful balance. The Institution achieves this through spatial zoning. Some areas remain strictly protected with minimal disturbance, while others are developed for responsible visitation and environmental education.

This approach ensures that while people connect with nature, sensitive habitats remain safeguarded.

Strong Partnerships Across Borders

Collaboration is a cornerstone of their success. The Institution jointly manages the Mura-Drava Regional Park, working closely with neighboring county institutions. At the international level, they cooperate with partners in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, and Serbia, recognizing that rivers and ecosystems transcend borders.

Partnerships with Croatian ministries, NGOs, and local community groups are equally vital. From amphibian rescue projects to citizen science initiatives, these collaborations bring conservation to life while fostering a sense of shared responsibility.

Međimurje Nature

A Valuable Addition to EUROPARC

With a strong blend of science, education, and collaboration, the Public Institution for Nature of Međimurje County is advancing both biodiversity conservation and sustainable development. Their work enriches the EUROPARC network and strengthens our shared vision: protecting Europe’s natural and cultural heritage for future generations.

We warmly welcome them into the EUROPARC Federation and look forward to exchanging knowledge and experiences across our community.

The Casentinesi Forest National Park in Italy hosted the EU Platform for Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores, testing out a new role play game for teenagers during the International Junior Ranger Camp.

Casentinesi Forests National Park: “Coexistence between humans and large predators? It’s a child’s play!”

Credit: Jessica Micklem-Kolenić

The European Platform for Coexistence between People and Large Carnivores has chosen the 2025 International Junior Ranger Camp in the Casentinesi Forests National Park as a laboratory for a new educational method to raise awareness on challenges and solutions for coexistence with wolves and other large carnivores.

The International Junior Ranger Camp is hosted each year in a European protected area by members of the EUROPARC Federation and is open to young people from the EUROPARC Junior Ranger programme. On Sunday the 27th July, the Casentinesi Forests National Park opened its doors to Junior Rangers (aged 14 – 16), Mentors and Rangers from 19 protected areas across 12 countries. They will be staying for 1 week in the heart of the forest, learning about hands-on nature conservation and learning about the history, culture and biodiversity of the region.

Credit: Emanuele Perez

A representative of the EU Platform secretariat, Sophie Evers from adelphi, joined for the first day and shared the efforts of the platform for the 5 large carnivores in Europe: the grey wolf (Canis lupus), the lynx (Lynx lynx and Lynx pardinus), the brown bear (Ursus arctos), the golden jackal (Canis aureus), and the wolverine (Gulo gulo). The conservation and management of these iconic animals is complex as their needs can bring them into conflict with human activities. Recognizing the importance of these issues, the European Commission and a group of organizations representing the major interest groups (protected areas, environmental organisations, landowners, herders, hunters and more) decided to collaborate, creating the EU Platform for stakeholder engagement in 2014 and supporting similar local and regional stakeholder platforms since 2018.

Credit: Jessica Micklem-Kolenić

The Junior Rangers spent the afternoon role playing as stakeholders of a village where wolves made a comeback after 100 years. They had to step into the shoes of different characters including livestock farmers who had lost sheep to the wolves, local citizens worried about their children, nature guides interested in promoting new wolf tourism, the local municipality who received funding for mitigation measures, as well as scientists, hunters, and others. This game aims to raise awareness on the different perspectives as well as showcasing how groups with different interests can come together to dialogue and agree on a path forward all together.

Wildlife Photographer Giorgio Amadori
Credit: Elo Raspel

The facilitators of each group led them through possible mitigation measures and towards consensus on a maximum of three solutions. Almost all groups were able to agree on at least one solution and presented their experience at the end. This new tool is available on the website of the EU Platform in 12 EU languages and is being translated into another 10 EU languages for all to use.

We are thrilled to welcome The Lancashire Wildlife Trust as a new member of the EUROPARC Federation. With deep roots in Lancashire, Greater Manchester, and North Merseyside, the Trust works tirelessly to protect, restore, and connect nature, while also safeguarding the cultural heritage woven into these landscapes.

Protecting Nature and Cultural Heritage Together

Astley Moss cottongrass by Alan Wright

The Lancashire Wildlife Trust manages over 40 nature reserves and several third-party sites, including nationally and locally designated areas such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Local Nature Reserves and Local Wildlife Sites.

Their work goes far beyond habitat restoration. At Lunt Meadows, for example, wetland conservation doubles as a gateway into the past. When the waters recede, visitors can see traces of Mesolithic settlements from around 8,000 years ago. This rare integration of archaeological research and habitat management demonstrates how cultural heritage can enrich conservation.

The Trust invites EUROPARC partners to its new visitor centre at Lunt Meadows, where they can explore how natural restoration and archaeological work continue hand in hand. This approach not only protects biodiversity but also attracts new audiences-people fascinated by history, who then discover the wildlife of the reserve.

Leading Landscape-Scale Restoration

Bittern flying over the reedbed at Lunt by Phil Boardman

Ambitious projects like the Carbon Landscape and Greater Manchester Wetlands showcase the Trust’s leadership in large-scale, multi-partner conservation.

These initiatives were not without challenges-aligning many stakeholders meant finding common ground. Strong leadership, regular communication, and shared events ensured progress. For example, while the Lancashire Wildlife Trust reintroduced the large heath butterfly at Astley Moss, the next reintroduction, the white-faced darter dragonfly, took place at Warrington Council’s Risley Moss. This balance ensured that both Lancashire and Cheshire benefitted, strengthening collaboration.

The Carbon Landscape became a flagship project, uniting thousands of people under its cottongrass logo with outdoor theatre, wildlife walks, art exhibitions, and even a giant floating Earth installation at Pennington Flash. Today, the Greater Manchester Wetlands includes two National Nature Reserves and continues to restore peatlands, willow tit habitat, woodlands, ponds, and waterways-making it a true model for large-scale restoration.

Keeping Traditional Practices Alive

Longhorn cow at Lightshaw Meadows in Wigan by Alan Wright

Conservation at the Lancashire Wildlife Trust also honours traditional land management techniques. Grazing animals such as English longhorn cattle, Hebridean sheep, and Shetland ponies play a vital role in

maintaining habitats. At Cutacre Nature Reserve, for instance, conservation grazing has transformed the site into a sanctuary for curlew, lapwing, and snipe.

By combining age-old techniques with modern restoration-like creating ponds and wetland habitats-the Trust demonstrates how historic practices can coexist with innovation. Plans to integrate carbon credits, Biodiversity Net Gain, and even solar farms show how conservation grazing can adapt to deliver for both climate resilience and biodiversity gains.

Engaging Communities and Inspiring Generations

Volunteers hedgelaying at cutacre by Lydia German

Community engagement is at the heart of the Trust’s mission. Their education team welcomes tens of thousand of children, parents, and teachers to reserves like Brockholes, Mere Sands Wood, Lunt Meadows, and Heysham each year.

Flagship programmes such as Forest Schools empower teachers to bring nature education to life, while the School Grounds team creates natural play spaces right in schoolyards. Beyond classrooms, beach schools, pond dipping sessions, and the lively Manchester Festival of Nature bring conservation to local communities in fun, engaging ways.

These activities don’t just inspire individual participants-they also contribute to the Nature Recovery Network, creating wildlife corridors across the UK.

A Shared Vision with EUROPARC

Through partnership, advocacy, sustainable land management, and cultural heritage integration, The Lancashire Wildlife Trust ensures that landscapes are protected, celebrated, and enjoyed for generations to come. Their approach reflects the very essence of EUROPARC’s vision: connecting people, nature, and culture across Europe.

We are proud to welcome The Lancashire Wildlife Trust into the EUROPARC Federation and look forward to learning from their innovative projects, rich heritage, and deep community connections.

Guests are out and about at Lunt by Alan Wright