Today, Friday, 8 classes from different elementary school of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere visited the Ellergronn. Awakening curiosity about nature and imparting knowledge about the uniqueness of Luxembourg’s only biosphere reserve were on the schedule of the more than 100 children from cycle 3 who, together with their teachers, had found their way to Esch between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.

From pollinators to forest bathing

The workshop of the Fondatioun natur&ëmwelt was called Forest Bathing. It was about experiencing the forest with all the senses. From hearing and touching to seeing. The children were told the differences between the various tree species and had to find out which objects do not belong in the native forest.

The role of pollinators, butterflies and bees was explained to the children in the workshop of the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).  The two scientists from the LIST showed the children how to distinguish between different types of insects and explained the role each animal plays in nature’s pollination process.

Archaeology and geology were the topics at the stand of the Musée Ferrum, where the school classes could carve with the help of flints and then make their own wooden jewellery.

From Munshausen, some Ardennais horses had made their way to the Minett. These sturdy workhorses used to be regularly deployed for work in the forest. At the stand of the Tourist Centre Robbesscheier, the pupils could experience how this work used to be done and find out for themselves how hard the actual work of the horses really is.

The nature administration had put the bees in the focus of their workshop. One of the questions answered was how honey is made from pollen. Furthermore, the life of bees in their colonies and the work of the beekeeper were explained.

The stand of the National Museum of Natural History was about the inhabitants of the lakes and ponds in the Minett UNESCO Biosphere. The children got to see the different newt species of the Minett UNESCO Biosphere and had a great time with the fire salamanders, which they were even allowed to hold in their hands.

The Luxembourg Science Center from Differdange also came to the Ellergronn. The various activities focused on biodiversity and the natural wealth of our earth.

Sunday: big family event

To conclude the days in nature, the big family festival will take place on Sunday. More than 30 booths will offer activities and information for the whole family. In the Foodvillage half a dozen food trucks are expecting the visitors and throughout the day musicians will provide good entertainment on the grounds of the Nature Conservation Center Ellergronn.

Parking is available nearby and those who don’t want to walk to the Nature Conservation Center from there can be comfortably driven by a horse-drawn carriage to the green heart of the City of Esch.

The complete program of “En Dag an der Natur” is available here.