Students from all over the world (France, Taiwan, Czech, Japan, Switzerland, Italy, Canada, South Korea, Russia) came to very picturesque village of Gugny situated in the same heart of the Biebrza Marshes. Their aim was to help Aquatic Warbler protection with their own hands, taking part in the volunteer work camp organized by OTOP AW LIFE project (WORKCAMP FIYE 912 BIEBRZA OTOP) from 02 to 16 August 2009.
10 person team was divided into 2 groups. First, consisted of girls and guided by very experienced volunteer Ania Wiśniewska who was already cooperating with the project before, was exploring marshes indicating land-parcels in field to be managed by OTOP. Me together with boys were building a fascine road and platform for "Ratrak". All this work was necessary to enable safe transportation of biomass after mowing the aquatic warbler habitat.
The work was very hard. Sometimes in the sun-heat among clouds of mosquitoes and gadflies other times in rain with accompanying sounds of the storm. And only one thing was constant - wading in high water reaching over knees.
Although girls many times were felling down deeply in peat and boys were deadly exhausted wearing heavy trees and bushes, after all day work everybody was coming home satisfied and with smile on his face. Time was running unexpectedly fast and suddenly work camp was finished leaving good memories for volunteers and good work done in the Biebrza Marshes.
Many thanks for your commitment and every liter of your sweat!!!
Grzegorz Olszewski
OTOP Trzcianne
