Fete des Associations

Setting up our stand.

Photo courtesy of Christian Barillet.

France holds an annual event in early September known as the Fete des Associations, where clubs, societies, groups and associations can showcase their activities and encourage new membership. I helped with the Association de botanique et de mycologie de Sainte Maure de Touraine's stand (Botamyco37) in the morning, and the Association d'Accueil et d'accompagnement de refugiés en Sud Touraine (AARST) in the afternoon. The Sainte Maure day is always well organised and has a street party vibe. Even on a very hot day it drew a reasonable crowd in the morning (although there were apparently very few people in the afternoon).

The Pond Project (Project Mares) manifesto.

Botamyco37 introduced their two new projects -- Plant a local tree, and the Pond Project, as well as presented our autumn outings programme and advertised our autumn exhibition.

The Botamyco37 autumn outings programme.

The  Plant a Local Tree project is organised by Antoine, who is growing trees from seed gathered in the Touraine. The seedlings are then given away to anyone wanting to enhance the biodiversity of their land.

The poster for the autumn Fete de la Nature.

The Pond Project is to identify ponds in the Touraine, establish what condition they are in, educate the public about their important in terms of cultural heritage and biodiversity, and encourage the public to get involved in their maintenance. It is better to maintain an existing pond than try to create new ones.

The Carrefour des Associations in Sainte Maure de Touraine, where dozens of clubs get together and the public can come and chat to members to see if they would like to join.

Didier is masterminding a big autumn festival in Yzeures sur Creuse, with lots of partners and like minded organisations to celebrate nature. 

Me talking to a lovely bubbly young woman who was travelling around the country with her equally nice boyfriend, but had family and a plot of land that they wanted manage sensitively in Sainte Maure.

Photo courtesy of Christian Barillet.