Bring nature back to Nellschütz

Bring nature back to an old gravel mine! You will support the transformation of an abandoned gravel pit into an ecologically valuable habitat and thus give back to nature what humans have taken from it. The Nellschütz gravel company is creating a habitat with a pond, deadwood, rocks and steep slopes on an area of 4 hectares, providing a new habitat for amphibians, insects and various plants. All these tasks are done in close cooperation with the local authorities for nature protection. The site will also be used for environmental education work with children and young people in the future. Specific tasks will include the construction of a circular path and a green classroom, the creation of a pond, deadwood areas, etc. You will be digging, straightening, planting, sawing and nailing. There will be a wide variety of work with different levels of difficulty. If necessary, workers from the gravel company will support you with heavy machines. A landscape gardener will provide professional guidance.

The living conditions will be very basic and sustainable. You will stay right next to the gravel pit, about 1km away from the small hamlet of Nellschütz. There will be several sleeping tents with camping beds and a pavilion with tables and benches as a common room. Cooking will take place in an improvised outdoor kitchen on an open fire. Instead of a fridge, there will be a dug-out earth cellar. There will be a compost toilet and solar showers. You can also use the showers in the public swimming pool from time to time or swim in the lake. Please bring your own sleeping bag. Oh, of course there is no WiFi. Your group of volunteers will be responsible for grocery shopping and cooking together. The food will be bought with the camp budget and everybody will take turns for cooking, washing the dishes and cleaning. In order to reduce our carbon footprint on the planet, we encourage volunteers to reduce meat and try more sustainable dishes.

Nellschütz is located in the south-west of Leipzig. The nearest larger town is Weißenfels, the meeting point on arrival. Weißenfels is worth a visit, there is a historic old town with various baroque-style buildings, a castle, but also nice shops, bars and cafés... but also many lost places due to the structural change in the region. We will try to offer various excursions. Due to the poor public transport most activities and excursions will be realised with the support of locals. They are already exited in showing you their highlights of the region.