+ Follow the Land Placement scheme

Bulgaria | Cyprus | Romania | Slovakia

August-September 2021

Guardians of the Forest Placement Scheme

Placement Report – Summer & Autumn 2021/2022

Delivered by Guardians Worldwide (GWW) in partnership with Advaya and Grampus Heritage (Cyprus)

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Overview

The Guardian of the Forest Placement Scheme successfully coordinated youth and teacher placements across Europe and Global South territories from July 2021 to June 2022. Placements combined experiential learning, forest stewardship, cultural heritage exploration, and community engagement, providing participants with practical skills in environmental stewardship, territorial governance, and participatory education.

The programme was delivered in partnership with Advaya, Grampus, and local community-based organisations in host territories, ensuring cultural relevance, safety, and impactful learning. Local partners facilitated logistics, community engagement, and on-the-ground mentorship.

Outcomes

Delivered to 50 participant from over 20 countries.
Placements took place across 4 countries: Slovakia, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
Developed practical skills in forest stewardship, community engagement, and environmental education.
Enabled participants to experience local-led territorial governance, contributing to a deeper understanding of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and rural community practices.
Strengthened cross-cultural networks between participants, local communities, and partner organizations.
Provided unique learning opportunities that emphasized transformational leadership, experiential knowledge, and environmental citizenship.

Placement participants collecting olives in ancient grove, Cyprus

Placement Activities & Timelines

Slovakia

Partner: Farmers Association Banska Bystrica via Grampus Heritage

14 participants engaged in the Follow the Land placement which included hands-on stewardship activities while exploring the historic "Wall of Giants – Fossa Giganteum" and local forests tree planting, learning about landscape conservation, heritage preservation, and cultural history.

Participants: Luisa Moraes (Brazil), Nelly Henzler (Germany), Magdalena Lekowska (Poland), Stephanie Pritchard (UK), Mary Lynne Haas (USA), Amanda Nutkins (UK) Florence Sawyer (UK), Chelsea Holland (UK), Rosie Llewellyn (UK), Natalia Benitez (Chile), Mary Farmilant (USA), Ana MacArthur (USA), Soizic Hagege (France), Sara Bengts (Sweden)

Romania

Partner: Local families in Trasceau Mountains and Aiud region via Grampus Heritage

18 Placements were delivered focused on reforestation, environmental education, traditional craft skills, and community engagement in the Trasceau Mountains, including trekking, workshops led by local shepherds, and practical workshops in woven fencing and rope-making.

Participants: Jane Corbett (UK), Susanne Wardle (UK), Amber Hahn (USA), Bryony Benge-Abbott (UK), Amanda Bond (UK), Clemence Viel (France) Natalie Koffman (USA), Rajni Patel (UK), Liene Jurgelane (Latvia), Tamara Colchester (UK), Tanja Abbas (Netherlands), Nikola Dojcsanova (Slovakia), Kylie Clore (USA), Becky Lyon (UK), Yaron Golan (Israel), Duncan Cullingford (UK) Louis Dale (UK), Mitchell Rae (UK) Jamie Rae (UK)

Cyprus

Partner: Grampus Heritage

18 Participants followed the Troodos and Machairas mountain ridges along the E4 European long-distance path, integrating field-based environmental education with cultural heritage exploration, supported post-fire alleviation work in local villages and took part in crafts-making workshops.

Participants: Peter Petkovsek (Slovenia), Charan Gp (UK), Yasmin Dahnoun (Lebanon), Adib Dada (Lebanon), Lauren Sharpe (USA), Amal Dissanayake (Sri Lanka), Mariana Guerra (Portugal), Nicolas Salazar Sutil (Portugal), Sean Crawford (Wales), Florence Fitzgerald (UK), Krysia Williams (USA), Mike Slevin (USA), Maddy Hubbard (UK), Mulika Ojikutu-Harnett (UK), Monica.Oprean (UK), Abbie Cartmell (UK) Kate Sagovsky (Poland) Rose Miyonga (UK) Bryony Benge Abbott (UK)

Bulgaria

Partner: Devetaki Plateau Association

Participants arrived at Sofia Airport on 12 October 2021 and were welcomed by our local partner, the Devetaki Plateau Association (DPA), who facilitated transfers and accommodations in Karpachevo village. Over eight days, the group undertook daily treks through forests, meadows, and villages, visiting sites such as Garvanitsa Cave, Byaloto Kamane, Krushuna Waterfalls, Boninska Water Cave, Brityanov Kat water reservoir, Devetaki Cave, Gradat Fortress, and the Persina Nature Park, covering distances of 3–20 km per day.

Activities combined environmental education, cultural heritage exploration, and hands-on workshops including wire jewelry making, as well as visits to Emen Gorge and local wineries. Participants gained immersive experience in local territorial stewardship, biodiversity, and community-led conservation practices, while fostering cross-cultural exchange with village hosts. Accommodation, meals, and logistics were fully supported by DPA and local partners, ensuring a safe and engaging learning environment that integrated both ecological and cultural understanding.

Participants: Chris Lovell (UK), Matt Zonca (UK), Bronwin Patrickson (Austria), Sarah Meouche (Lebanon), Maija Sequeira (Portugal), Sean Crawford (Wales), Jacob Obodai (UK), Alex Boyd (UK)

Participant feedback

Thank you again for initiating the placement week in Bulgaria. I had no idea that this Guardians programme even existed, and it is quite wonderful. We were all pinching ourselves, hardly able to believe that we were really there and part of such a special experience. We had fine companions - a great group of people with widely different interests and capacities, but the ability to also find common ground in our love for nature, culture and animals.

Bronwen Patrickson, Australia

"The trip to Bulgaria was great! I think all 5 of us enjoyed it very much, albeit in different ways. The organisation was excellent (thanks to Iva & Velis for that) and everyone we met was exceptionally warm and welcoming. In particular I’d like to thank Vlado & Petya who really went out of their way to educate and entertain us. The traditional Bulgarian Chicken Chase was a highlight"

Chris Lovell (UK)

"This week was one of the pinnacle experiences of his life. I loved just about everything about the week."

Matt Zonca (UK)