With the Natureship in Gotland and with Cofreen in Netherlands Veerribben-Wieden

Working groups and steering group of Interreg IVA Natureship were gathered in Gotland 27-29.4. and pondered about nature library - 6 publications are the main result of the project. We got to know nice coastal meadows and pastures as well as Visby old town with our host Gotland länstyrelsen. Natureship web pages

http://www.ymparisto.fi/default.asp?contentid=383955&lan=FI

In Netherlans 11-13.5. Interreg IVA Cofreen project construction group host was Mr Hans Schiphorst. We got acquainted with state of the art thatching techinques, building regulations related to thatched roofs and fire issues related to thatched roofs and reed architecture. We saw some latest modern housing development and made a bicycle tour of 60 km (?!) during one day in order to get the best out of the Veerribben-Wieden national park and Giethoorn village. Photos by Iiro Ikonen.

http://www.cofreen.eu/

Visby old town silhuette.

Endemic Corydalis gotlantica in Koviken pasture.

Looking for uprising platns. Stone was said to be for sharpening the viking swords. Koviken area was an ancient harbour !

On coastal pasture, having lunch near chapel.

Ship-shaped restored viking grave from ancient history.

These fellows of Pulsatilla pratensis illuminated coastal sand dunes.

Then to Netherlands - learning about how to make good modern sturctures for roofing. In the front laughing Mr Peter Hartog

from Dutch Reedthatchers' Federation.

Round-shaped tiles for the top.

Our lunch-restaurant De Roode Schuur (red barn).

In Laren we could see some modern housing development.

Relaxing and beautiful. This concept with red colour could suit for Nordic environments?!

Green faces of Giethoorn !

Anna-Leena, goats and old-type fences.

Jouni Saario searching for otter passage. Otter is reintroduced and thriving in Veerribben-Wieden.

Then we could learn about cleaning of reed bunches. Our bicycle tour ranger Mr Egbert Beens from State Forestry Service was the familar face for everybody in the park area.

Here is also familiar looking machinery, total price of the machine and cleaner was some years ago around 9000 euros.

Transport sledge.

Sun panels. Municipality support for using panels and reed thatching was last year 40% ! Booming business.

On our way back to Schiphol we saw some Star Wars architecture (Decos). Inside we heard nice presentation of history of reed architecture in Holland by Arnold Homan(INBO).