IVN Nature Walk: Use of Plants

On Sunday 6 July, the nature guides from IVN Mark & Donge will walk through nature with a different perspective; you will look at the use of plants and trees throughout the centuries. Plants are the basis of life on Earth. Animals and humans cannot survive without plants.

Our distant ancestors - hunters and gatherers - knew much more about nature than we do. That was undoubtedly the first condition for survival: to survive, people needed to know what was edible or useful and what was dangerous. Imagine: a life without pharmacy, drugstore, supermarket, butcher's shop and hardware store. That means: food from nature, making tools from stone, bone and wood. Would we still be able to survive?

You will look at the application of plants, shrubs, trees and fruits, not only as food and medicine but also as material for tools. Some examples of how plants and trees can be used:

• The bark of willow and linden could be made into good rope.
• Ropes have also been made from grasses and nettles by many peoples.
• The cloak of Ötzi, the famous 'Iceman', was made from grass.
• Branches of willow, blackthorn and birch are flexible and processed into baskets, traps or other items.
• Mat-grass has not received its name for nothing.

And there are countless examples of the use of plants. The guides will show you several of them. You will be amazed at how much could be made useful.

Registration is possible until the day of the walk. After registering, you will receive information about the starting point.