On May 24-25, the Administration of the Veľká Fatra National Park organized a festive event in the Blatnica amphitheater on the occasion of 50 years of nature protection of the Veľká Fatra. The NPVF is the youngest national park in Slovakia, declared since April 2002, but on the basis of a decree from December 1973, the Veľká Fatra was protected as a Protected Landscape Area (PLA) with a lower degree of protection. The last weekend of May was therefore in the spirit of celebration.
The first day was dedicated to the professional public – a professional conference was held in the Blatnická Valley, which was also supported by the participation of state secretaries from the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic and the Director General of the State Nature Conservancy of the Slovak Republic. The welcome was made more pleasant by the choir from Blatnica and the performance of children from the Blatnica Primary School. The lecturers discussed the topics of nature conservation, forestry, botany, entomology, or the consequences of various changes in the history of the management of the territory of the Veľká Fatra. Various experts presented us with interesting results of their research in local meadows, wetlands or primeval forests, and some of the participants were given a commemorative medal as a memory of this important event.
May 24 is also celebrated as the European Day of National Parks and therefore we were honored that representatives of all Slovak national parks accepted the invitation: Tatra National Park (who were with us on Saturday), Low Tatras National Park, Malá Fatra National Park, Muránska planina National Park, Pieniny National Park, Administration of the outermost Poloniny National Park, Slovak Paradise National Park, Slovak Karst National Park as well as representatives of the SOP SR and several PLAs. In the background, all national parks had stands with presentation materials and inspirational demonstrations of their educational and other work activities. We were thrilled that all the national parks accepted our invitation and we could meet again in person, get to know each other more deeply, talk and discuss topics that unite us.
Everything was supervised by the gentlemen from the Mountain Rescue Service of the Veľká Fatra, to whom we also thank for their participation.
The second day of the celebrations (Saturday) was already organized for the general public. The Veľká Fatra National Park presented itself with seven educational and entertainment stations for both young and old visitors. Each station was dedicated to a different field of nature conservation, e.g. botany, landscape design, zoology, nature guard or forestry. At individual stations, you could learn the basics and interesting experiences from the profession and also compete in an experiential way, complete the assigned task and collect stamps from all stations. At the finish line, the children made a medal of a protected animal for completing all tasks and also received a small reward.
At the nearby Blatnica Castle, a search game for the whole family took place. Smaller children collected various small elements (from) nature and the older ones had fun deciphering the verbal and picture cipher about the most strictly protected reserves of the Veľká Fatra. The program also included a guided tour of the castle with Mr. Vaňková from OZ Diadém – Association for the Rescue of Blatnica Castle, who prepared, among other things, small refreshments for people.
The public could also listen to several interesting interviews, e.g. with the Brown Bear Intervention Team, with the landscape painter and former director of the NPVF, with the rangers, a botanist, or a beekeeper of the NPVF Administration, and we owe them and their engaging speeches for the high turnout on Saturday.
In the background, you could find various folk craftsmen who use natural materials in their work, examples of traditional woodworking and their work tools. Many visitors stayed at the colorful stand of forest pedagogy NLC and our dear guests from TANAP with demonstrations of the tools they use in their environmental education programs. Ing. Ľubomír Engler also honored us with his presence on both days with majestic birds of prey of all sizes and owls, which have found their place at the foundation stone of the Veľká Fatra National Park. We believe that they liked the first sleepover in the Gaderská Valley. Friday’s rainy weather was also successfully overcome by the colorful works of art of children and pupils, which decorated the wooden building of the former Amfik. Children from Blatnica, Necpaly, Belá-Dulice, Turčianske Jaseno and Dražkovce Kindergartens, Kláštor pod Znievom Kindergartens, Podhájska and Jabĺčko Kindergartens, Mošovce Elementary Schools and Ľubochňa Elementary Schools participated in the competition. Children with decorated faces, various painted plants and animals ran around the area, and several companies took care of refreshments. Both beer lovers and lovers of clean, spring water came into their own. On Friday, the employees of TURVOD treated us to excellent cauldron goulash, which was just dusty, and water from the famous Necpal spring. In return, we offered them to our goulash on Saturday, which we also provided to the public for free. Lovers of folk music also came into their own with the Borka group, and in the end, children from DFS Turiec also performed. This performance gave us a beautiful end to the end.
Perhaps the biggest thanks go to the sponsors of this event, thanks to whom we could have an unforgettable peace of mind on Friday and Saturday. We thank the Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic, SOP SR, we also thank the City of Martin, the municipality of Blatnica, TURVOD and Brantner, as well as our scouts to help on the way to the medal. We were also able to donate water from Budiš and Fatra, packaged in glass, to all conference guests. We thank everyone who, in partnership or in any other way, contributed to the success of this great event, which we can be rightly proud of.
We look forward to more events and your participation!
