Nature conservation on the edge of the big city - Part 1

CODE: ijgd 15021

Work
Landscape conservation in great surroundings and sightseeing in the big city! - You can experience both at this camp on the outskirts of the metropolis of Hamburg.
You will work under the guidance of staff from the Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre, mainly in the Boberger Niederung and Borghorster Elblandschaft nature reserves, but also in the nature reserves Auenlandschaft Obere Tideelbe, Allermöher Wiesen, Horster Moor and Heuckenlock areas. In the first week you will work from Monday to Friday, in the second from Monday to Thursday, as Friday 3 October is a public holiday.
The Boberger Niederung nature reserve is an extraordinary place, as sand dunes and heathland, moors and forests, marshland meadows and waters meet here, making every corner of the 464-hectare area diverse and particularly worthy of protection. Around 650 plant species grow here, including many highly endangered or endangered species, such as the broad-leaved orchid. Endangered animals such as the blue-winged grasshopper, grass snake and common snipe can also be found here. The inland dune is the most endangered type of biotope in Germany, which is why one of your tasks is to carry out weed removal measures or to ‘ring’ the invasive bird cherry, i.e. to take away its nutrient supply by removing the bark.
In the Borghorster Elblandschaften nature reserve, you will also be busy weeding and ‘ringing’ weeping cherries. This 225-hectare area offers similarly diverse habitats as the Boberger Niederung. Animal species such as the beaver, the oriole and the ant mermaid (an insect species) can be found here. You will also be planting hardwoods in the tidal floodplain.
On a trip to the Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre in Hamburg-Moorwerder, you will get an insight into the exhibition there and a guided tour of the adjacent, unique Heuckenlock nature reserve (a freshwater tidal floodplain with a 100-hectare alluvial forest, which is located in the south of the Elbe island of Wilhelmsburg and where, among other things, the white-tailed eagle breeds). You will also build and hang up nesting aids and collect rubbish in the Allermöher Wiesen nature reserve.
In addition to the practical work, you will learn a lot about nature and environmental protection in general as well as the nature and habitat in these two special nature reserves from employees of the Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre. You will learn a lot about the local flora and fauna as well as the special need for protection of animals and plants on the Red List.
Information (unfortunately only in German) on the Boberger Niederung and Borghorster Elblandschaft nature reserves and the Elbe tidal floodplain centre can be found here:
https://www.goep.hamburg/boberg/
https://www.goep.hamburg/borghorst/
https://www.goep.hamburg/umweltbildung/elbe-tideauenzentrum.php
Accomodation and food
You will stay at Haus Warwisch, a quiet and idyllic self-catering house on the outskirts of Hamburg directly on the Elbe. It offers space for two groups. In your living area there is a 7-bed room, a 6-bed room and a 2-bed room. There is also a kitchen, a dining room and lounge as well as a shower and toilet for men and women. A campfire and barbecue area as well as a football pitch and basketball hoop are available in the outdoor area 70 metres away.
You cater for yourselves and cook together. You will be provided with money for shopping. Vegetarian or vegan meals are possible. Please indicate any intolerances when registering.
Location and leisure
In your free time, you can enjoy your quiet accommodation and the beautiful surroundings by taking part in sports and spending evenings together around the campfire. You can also go on excursions to Hamburg, the second largest city in Germany, where a wide range of leisure activities await you.
www.hamburg.de (German) / www.hamburg.com (English)
At the weekend, trips to the beaches on the North and Baltic coast are well worthwhile
Project hosted by
Gesellschaft für ökologische Planung e.V. (GÖP) - Society for Ecological Planning
Elbe-Tideauenzentrum - Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre
The Society for Ecological Planning e.V. (GÖP) is a non-profit nature conservation association. It looks after 14 of Hamburg's 37 nature reserves and runs the Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre, an important extracurricular educational institution dedicated to the freshwater tidal floodplains, which are unique in Europe. With mostly self-built exhibits on local nature, flora and fauna, the exhibition provides insights into these special features and motivates visitors to try things out and experience them. The staff of the Elbe Tidal Floodplain Centre carry out nature conservation measures in the 14 nature reserves.

The ijgd has been organising volunteer service programmes since 1949. We are an independent, non-profit association for international youth work, a recognised independent youth welfare organisation, and one of the largest and oldest workcamp organisations in Germany. Each year, we assist around 5,000 young people into volunteer work in Germany and abroad. We give them the opportunity to be creative, act in solidarity, take responsibility for themselves, and discover their own true potential and strengths. Our principles: Ecological learning, voluntary contribution, self-organisation, social development, intercultural learning, gender equality, anti-racism/anti-discrimination and political education.
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Directions to meeting point
Meeting point and time: at accommodation until 7:15pm on 20/09/2025
From Hamburg airport take S-Bahn S1 (direction Wedel or Hamburg-Blankenese) to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof (Hamburg main train station, about 25 min travel time). The S1 is running every 10min.
From Hamburg main station / Hamburg ZOB
At Hauptbahnhof (main train station) / ZOB you can take the bus Bus 124 or 224 to Bahnhof Bergedorf and leave the bus at station Kirchwerder Schulweg (travel time 43mins).
From the bus stop, walk 20 metres in the direction of travel and then turn right into Kirchwerder Schulweg. Follow this road for approx. 400 metres to the end until you reach Wrauster Bogen. Turn right and the first house on the right is your accommodation.
More Information about train and bus connections: www.bahn.com
Additional comments
Please note: There is a special Teenage Fee of 150€ for international volunteers who applied under 18 in this camp.
You will receive more information after your confirming registration with the specigic infosheet for your project.
Requirements
Fitness and readiness for physically strenuous and monotonous work; Be sure to bring robust work clothing for rain and cold, but also for sun and heat as well as, and (waterproofed) shoes; you will travel 15 to 45 minutes by public transport (tickets will be provided) to the nature reserves;