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Conservation volunteering in Estonia

COUNTRY:
Estonia
DEPARTURES:
2012: 7 Aug
PRICE:
From £490 (8 days) excluding flights
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can not be used with this holiday
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Conservation volunteering in Estonia

Conservation volunteering in Estonia

Volunteer travel - what's it all about?
Are you looking for an adventurous trip with a purpose, or on a gap year or career break? If you want to make a difference in some of the world’s most important conservation areas - and in community projects - then volunteer trips are for you! Volunteers tend to have a sense of adventure, and come from a range of different backgrounds and from all over the world.
Edward Abbey said 'sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul'.

How this holiday makes a difference

The floodplain complex in Alam-Pedja Nature Reserve is the second largest in Estonia and one of the largest still open floodplain complexes surviving in the whole of Europe. The cease in traditional management activities that have been practiced for centuries on the floodplain meadows - haymaking and grazing - threatens the reserves unique natural values.

This is critical habitat protection work - preserving the meadow, an important feeding area for migratory birds and other wildlife; and establishing and improving conditions for management and restoration of semi-natural habitats. A significant aspect of the work is the linkage between human activities and nature: traditional beneficial landscape management, abandoned during Soviet times, is started again.

The project complements our wider development work with Estonia's most dynamic and growing environmental organisation to improve their ability to improve rare wildlife habitats in this deprived corner of Europe. The project has been initiated and planned in consultation with locals and your presence will not only mean real physical improvements but contribute to a new sense of inclusion.

As the UK's biggest environmental volunteering charity, our aim is to make the maximum contribution to the communities and places we work in and we always work with a local partner organisation. This is a unique holidays in a unique place. Working directly with the the local organisation, volunteers and local people you'll have the chance to experience Estonia in a way no other holiday can offer. Living, laughing and working as a group, you're not only changing the world, you'll change your life.

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Conservation volunteering in Estonia

Reviewed 20 Aug 2011 by Kate Bennett4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


I really loved seeing a beaver in the wild - well three actually! Other wildlife included cranes, white tailed eagle, mink as well as lizards and many birds. More generally being completely in the wilderness - to the extent that transport to the work site was by boat. There was just no other way. No roads and too overgrown to walk. The place we lived was beautiful and the leaders and group were really lovely - without exception.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Not many tips really. I thought the instructions were pretty clear. Best to follow them, some group members didn't and had brought the wrong type of clothes. Another time I would find more out about the day off. It turned out to be in Tartu and I had already booked a day at the end in Tartu. Not a problem though, I went off on a bus trip instead and had a really interesting day somewhere else.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


The goal was to improve the territory for fish and other creatures. I think we did this, though the scale of the task is huge, but you have to start somewhere. I would say we had very little negative impact on the environment. The Estonians we met were very happy with our contribution and I loved meeting local people.


4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Very enjoyable, fun and interesting. Lots of lovely food, plenty to do and provided you don't mind getting a bit grubby and working hard for short periods, I would strongly recommend this holiday. In fact I already have!
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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