Volunteer travel in Bulgaria

Bulgaria, Black Sea-side, Pomorie town – Pomoriisko Lake. To the North of Bourgas lie several saline lakes. Two of these, Pomoriisko and Atanasovsko, are amongst the most significant bird areas in Europe acting as resting sites for thousands of birds during the autumn migration. This is a typical bottleneck site along the Via Pontica flyway (the route used by birds migrating between Scandinavia and Africa), one of the most important migration routes in Europe and an attraction for birdwatchers from all over. Here, over 314 bird species can be seen (85% of the total number of species that can be seen in the country and on the Balkan Peninsula), among them a number of rare and threatened species – storks, pelicans, avocets, all the raptor species of Europe and nearly all plover species. The region of Bourgas wetlands is a real treasure even for Bulgaria, a country known for its rich biodiversity particularly of birds. This has been recognised with the RAMSAR designation of Atanasovsko and Pomoriisko Lakes as "wetlands of international importance".

Pomorie is renowned for its therapeutic mud baths and is one of Bulgaria’s main producers of salt. Pomorie’s ancient precursor, Anchialos, was founded by the Apollonians, became rich through the export of salt and wine, and found favour in the Roman era as an exclusive health resort. The lakeside sanatorium remains important to the area's economy, as does the locally produced aromatic dry Dimyat wine.

Who we're working with: In 1988, the former totalitarian regime in Bulgaria committed what is considered one of the most serious crimes against the biological diversity of Europe. Throughout the country hundreds of thousand tons of poisonous chemicals (rodenticides) were spread to control lemming populations. This caused the death of over a million wild birds wintering in Bulgaria. In December 1988, an informal group of students and scientists from Plovdiv University and the Ecology Institute gathered the carcasses of dead birds and organised the first environmental demonstration in the country. This small group gained instant recognition and the organisation GREEN BALKANS was established. In 1992, regional societies established in the country united in a national network under the name Green Balkans Federation of Nature Conservation NGOs. At the end of the year 2000, Green Balkans network comprised 4000 members united in 4 regional offices and 25 correspondent centres. Green Balkans has implemented more than 560 nature conservation campaigns with voluntary funds and the efforts of more than 1100 people. The federation is involved in a number of conservation activities including restoration of wetlands and habitats of rare and threatened species, nature-conservation legislation and sustainable development. We has been working with Green Balkans for over 10 years providing organisational support and training, and complementing this with our International conservation Holiday programme. We'll be continuing our work constructing artificial stone and wooden islands for nesting of sandwich terns, Mediterranean gulls, and avocets, started back in 1997 during the first us/Green Balkans working holiday. In addition, we'll be developing and constructing new underground nesting boxes for shelducks. This addresses a key problem of the coastal lakes region - lack of permanent nesting sites. Many people and predatory mammals (dogs and foxes) visit the area and the inner dikes, disturbing the nesting birds and destroying their eggs. This has caused a significant reduction in the number of bird species present in recent years. We'll be working on the southern shore of Pomoriisko Lake, about half a mile from our hotel accommodation. The birds are always around to distract us from our work - wheeling in the sky and feeding at the lake. Up to 12 Bulgarian volunteers will join us, mainly Green Balkans members, young people from Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, and elsewhere making for a great social working atmosphere - and lots of fun! Usual working times are 9:00am to 1:00pm, but be prepared for flexibility depending on work priorities and weather.

Where we'll be staying: Top class accommodation for a working holiday! We're staying in the comfortable and grand-sounding Palace Hotel in Pomorie town. We'll be in shared double rooms with en suite facilities, or in two-roomed, three person flats. All meals are provided by the hotel and the beaches are nearby, so when we're not lugging buckets of sand and building nests, this holiday is a real chance to relax.

What else is there: All activities, including leisure excursions are organised by Green Balkans - and they always pull out all the stops to make a great holiday for everyone. Pomorie is a resort town with a useful range of chemists, shops, restaurants, bars, Internet Cafes and banks - even a cash machine that works with various debit cards. On the Black Sea coast, the town has two beaches, providing various entertainment opportunities and attractive cafes at the sand beaches. We'll have plenty of opportunity to relax and sunbathe on the beaches and swim in the Black Sea. We'll also take some short trips to the nearby seaside towns and villages, visit Nessebar Architectural Reserve and other historical, botanical and architectural landmarks. A special trip to the Atanassovsko Lake Reserve will provide even more quality birding. Near to Pomorie there is a Thracian tomb - one of the few remaining in Bulgaria. Towards the end of the project we'll take a two day trip to the ancient peninsula town of Sozopol renowned for its architectural style and its Archaeological Museum. Walk the cobble stone streets of the old town, feel the culture and ambience of the past and experience the floodplain forests along the Ropotamo River. Optional boat trip where with the rare chance to see the Sand Lily - a beautiful endemic plant, as well as the Water Lily. On the bank of Pomoriisko Lake is the only Museum of Salt in the Balkans, displaying methods and techniques for salt production from lake-water.