Biodiversity, Heritage and Civic Engagement: EUNICE’s Green Makers Camp Stops at UMONS

The first part of the programme, coordinated by UPHF, took place at the former Maroilles Abbey, where the volunteers joined a restoration project organised by Club du Vieux Manoir. Under the guidance of experienced supervisors, the group learned traditional brick masonry techniques while contributing to the preservation of a remarkable historic site. Beyond the restoration work, participants also enjoyed many opportunities to connect through shared meals, game nights and visits to the surrounding region.

After spending a cultural weekend in Lille and Roubaix, the group travelled to Mons for the second part of the programme, organised by UMONS.

The week began with workshops led by Écocentre Oasis, focusing on gardening and biodiversity. Participants also joined a foraging walk to collect wild edible plants, which they later used during a sustainable cooking workshop. At the Héribus slag heap, they learned how to observe and photograph local flora using their smartphones. A night walk offered a different perspective on local wildlife, as participants, accompanied by expert guides, observed and listened to several species, including bats, birds and frogs.

The programme then continued in Tournai with a visit to Le Carré materials library and reuse centre, where participants discovered practical approaches to material reuse and the circular economy. In Ath, the non-profit organisation La Framboise Masquée hosted a day of activities combining gardening, berry picking, a visit to the Maffle Stone Museum, and an introductory stone-carving workshop, highlighting the connections between traditional craftsmanship, cultural heritage and sustainable development.

The Green Makers Camp concluded with a visit to the MUMONS and a workshop led by Natagora on observing urban birdlife, encouraging participants to take a fresh look at the biodiversity that thrives in urban environments.

Throughout the two-week programme, participants developed new skills, deepened their awareness of environmental challenges and fully experienced the intercultural dimension that lies at the heart of the EUNICE Alliance. The Green Makers Camp enabled these young volunteers to build lasting friendships while contributing to meaningful projects supporting both cultural heritage and environmental sustainability.