Official Opening for the Public

Official Opening for the Public

Saturday 16 May 2024, the House of Nature was officially opened to the public by Jiřina Gaťáková, Director of the Bílé Karpaty PLA Administration, and Petr Kolář, Mayor of Veselí nad Moravou.

During the day, the exposition was viewed by over 600 visitors.

In addition to the exhibition, several activities and workshops were prepared for children. So as not to miss out any activity, they were given a card to be stamped off at each activity. After completing all activities, they received a sticker with the House of Nature mascot – the Aesculapian snake.In the Forest section, children were asked to solve the Open-canopy Forest puzzle while distinguishing pupas and eggs of various species. Using rubber stamps, they could also print the development stages of the stag beetle. Elsewhere the world of bees was presented – not only the development and functioning of a bee colony, but also bee products. In the outside water element, showing water retention in the landscape, children floated their own paper boats, and nearby they could catch (wooden) fish, to be exact 9 species living in different waters. In the studio, a pre-Easter atmosphere was created with basket weaving, wool making on a spinning wheel. Children could also draw ornaments and create their own compositions based on preprints.

This all-day programme was organised by our colleagues of the Bílé Karpaty Education and Information Centre in collaboration with several other organisations – Líska, ČSOP Kosenka, CEV Žabka, DDM Pastelka Uh. Ostroh, and DDM Šikula Uherské Hradiště..

Visitors could relax in the lecture room, watching three films: The Mysterious World of the White Carpathians, Landscape for Butterflies, and Invitation to the White Carpathians. In the afternoon over 50 people attended a short presentation by Václav Křivan (ČSOP Kněžice) on the most significant beetles of the Veselí nad Moravou chateau park. Following, the audience was taken to the park, which is a valuable site from the entomological perspective. Here also Gašpar Čamlík (Czech Society for Ornithology – South Moravian branch) showed some bird species typical of this site, which is part of the Bzenecká doubrava – Strážnické Pomoraví Bird Area. After that a botanical excursion aimed at spring flora followed, led by Jan W. Jongepier and Ivana Jongepierová.

Those who missed this first day need not regret it. Lectures, walks and workshops will also be held in the coming months.