France

Introduction

Creation of an accrobranche park equipped to offer activities for a wide range of audiences (young children, young people, groups, locals, tourists). The park enhances the environment and raises visitors’ awareness of its resources by combining fun and sporting activities in the great outdoors. Based on an approach based on environmental education and sustainable development, the “Air de Nature” Forest Park uses a sensational sporting activity to recreate the link between man and nature.

Presentation of the project

Near the Vallabrix quarry, on the edge of the Saint-Quentin-la-Poterie inter-municipal forest, the SCOP has created the Air de nature adventure park in 2020. It’s based on a former sand quarry, exploited for over 100 years, where nature has reclaimed its rights.

It offers 3 hectares of activities, 10 courses for 120 play workshops. A restaurant and picnic area.

The park is made up of three play areas: first steps (2 to 10 year-olds without PPE – personal protective equipment), small steps (2 to 10 year-olds with PPE) and adventure (11 to 88 year-olds). It has been equipped to offer activities for a wide range of audiences (young children, young people, groups, locals, tourists). What’s more, the aim is to provide a fun and sporting activity in the heart of nature, enhance the value of the environment and make visitors more aware of its resources (installation of dry toilets, sorting bins, etc.). Based on an approach to environmental education and sustainable development, the “Air de Nature” Forest Park was a sensational sporting activity designed to recreate the link between man and nature.

The Park was open during the 2020 summer holidays from 9.30am to 7.30pm, 7 days a week. All Saints’ Day holidays, weekends, Wednesdays and public holidays from 10am to 6pm. 

The advantage of the activity is that it is aimed at all ages and fitness levels (children (from two years old), juniors, adults, holidaymakers or locals, groups, schools, leisure centres, holiday villages, companies, works councils).

This project has diversified the local family offer; boosted and increased the region’s economic and tourist appeal; promoted sustainable green tourism; developed partnerships with local players, etc.

The project was made possible by LEADER funding and networking with local tourism stakeholders.

The emblematic character of the project

This project is a LEADER priority for our region, as we have a high proportion of second homes and a large number of tourists. It is therefore vital to be able to adapt to this summer phenomenon, which is a major source of income for the area, while preserving our heritage and creating new offers for local people throughout the year.

Respect for the environment is also a key LEADER priority for our region.

Lastly, this project has created 3 seasonal jobs and 2 full-time jobs in 2020, which will be continued in subsequent years. The project has been sufficiently profitable to enable new services to be provided in the park (games, educational workshops, ancillary activities).

To be successful, this type of project needs to be supported by the local authority (in this case by making the municipal forest available), in addition to subsidies for the costly development and acquisition of equipment.

This type of project could be transferred to other areas wishing to develop an EEDD (environmental education and sustainable development) approach through a sports and leisure activity. The park’s educational project aims to engage its public in a reflection on the issues involved in protecting the local natural heritage. All LAG territories wishing to promote green tourism that is sustainable, responsible and sensitive to respect for the environment.

Pictures

SCOP Air de nature

PETR UZEGE PONT DU GARD

OCCITANIE