Gorenjska region education trails – Udin boršt

Project's background

Udin boršt is a unique area due to its natural, rustic and cultural sights and its position in the heart of Gorenjska region. Its natural and cultural sights offer a chance to develop sustainable tourism, recreation and regionally important education in natural sciences.

The Municipality of Naklo in cooperation with the Municipality of Tržič have started the project Gorenjska education trails – Udin boršt in 2013 in order to activate all the potentials of tourism and education in the area. The project is financed by European Regional Development Fund and the Republic of Slovenia and was chosen as part of the Regional Development Programme - Development of Regions under Operational Programme for Strengthening Regional Development Potentials 2007-2013 for the period of 2012-2014.

Project's activities Equipping the trails and visitor's points

• By the end of 2014, the project entails equipping the main natural science sights and rustic sights with information boards and other information – interpretation tools in a professional way, so it is interesting for visitors. There will be areas for recreation and several education points with didactic equipment as well as hiking, cycling and education trails.                                                                                                           

The Municipality of Naklo will upgrade the existing cycling, thematic and hiking trails in its wider area of Udin boršt with new equipment. This way the trails will be even more interesting for nature lovers, recreation enthusiasts, families and school groups who come individually, in organised groups or at special events. 10 cycling racks will be put up for 100 bicycles altogether. To spice up the tourist activities and events along the trails, more stands will be put up and modern sound system equipment provided. The latter will be available on demand to local societies. Each education trail will have worksheets which will help visitors to truly get to know the nature and rustic sights when discovering the area.

In the Municipality of Tržič a few ideas, which were formed in the local communities of Sebenje and Žiganja vas, both closely connected to Udin boršt, are going to be carried out. The 9 km long trail Pot treh zvonov (The path of three bells) which goes from Sebenj through Udin boršt to Žiganja vas and back to Sebenje will be marked and equipped. Cooperating with Križe Primary School the natural science trail along the wetland called Blata (muds). With the existing worksheets it will enable classes in nature not only for the mentioned school but also for any visitor interested. There will be two recreational areas at the entrance of Udin boršt in Sebenje and Žiganja vas – Novine and enable visitors to do warm-up exercises in nature and in this way actively cooperate with nature. Local sights will be additionally marked (linden, paths, church, ski jumping centre Sebenje) in Sebenje and Žiganja vas and visitors will have more opportunities of what to do and see.

    Promotional material, website and events

• Tourism and education offers will be presented and promoted via new materials and communication tools (folded pamphlets, website), also enabling marketing. Apart from the common folded pamphlet – map for the entire Udin boršt, the northern part belonging to the Municipality of Tržič and local community of Sebenje will get its own folded pamphlet. Pot treh zvonov, wetland Blata, natural sights and all the tourism and countryside offers will be included in there. ‘In the land of conglomerate karst’ pamphlet is intended for educational tourism and will present conglomerate karst phenomena in the western part of Udin boršt , which is in The Municipality of Naklo. A website for promoting Udin boršt is also being designed and activated.

• Tourism and educational events for locals and visitors                                                         An important aspect of introducing all the available offer are the upgraded existing or completely new natural science and tourist events. In the area of entire local community of Sebenje the Municipality of Tržič and Sebenje will carry out a new ethnological event Pot treh zvonov family walk.
  
  
  
  In the wider area of Udin boršt a three day event called Weekend of experiencing nature and countryside in Udin boršt will take place. It is organised by the local communities, Centre for Sustainable Development in the Countryside and the Municipality of Naklo. Local sand visitors will be able to participate in hikes, cycling trips with sampling the local cuisine or some of the literary evenings by the bonfire in the Brigand’s camp. A course in sustainable fishery and nature – art workshop on waters will be organised.
  
  

We also have to mention that with the help of this project and its events and activities also culinary, ethnological and other similar tourism offers (local cuisine, tourist guides, and accommodation) are going to be promoted in the entire area of the Municipality of Naklo.

Duration of the project: from September 2012 (the actual start March 2013) to August 2014.

Value of the project: 180,000 EUR (127,500 EUR by European Regional Development Fund).

Project partners: The Municipality of Tržič (project promoter) and Municipality of Naklo (project partner).