The Basque mountains are characterised by the presence of small wetlands on the slopes, known as peat bogs, in the middle of pastures and moors. There are also other wetlands along the banks of the River Adour, known as “barthes”. These areas are subject to various pressures, including invasive species, pastoralism and tourism.

The various sites you will be working on, the Mondarrain and Sare peat bogs and the Mouguerre and Lahonce barthes, are protected natural areas managed by the Pyrénées Atlantiques department and the Conservatoire des espaces naturels. Many interventions are necessary throughout the year to preserve these fragile environments, so you'll be taking part in this work and supporting the teams on site. Numerous activities are led throughout the year with schools, youths and locals to raise awareness on the specific animal and plant species of the region. The workcamp will not only be an opportunity to help preserve these unique places, but also to discover all their secrets thanks to the many specialists who will be guiding you around the site.

Come and take part in the project to protect several natural sites in the Basque region! This project, created with nature specialists from the area and the “Conservatory of Natural Areas” (= Conservatoire des Espaces Naturels) will allow you to discover the flora and fauna of the region through a range of different tasks: cutting down and removing invasive exotic species on wet moorland, repairing and installing fences in the mountains.

You'll have the opportunity to work on different sites in the middle of nature!

You will be accommodated in individual tents on a camping site, with sanitary facilities, kitchen and communal living area in the small village of Urt. You will share various collective tasks and prepare meals together. A budget will be allocated to the leaders.
Together, you'll help organise community life (cleaning, activities, etc.) and take turns preparing meals, trying to use locally sourced and seasonal products. We encourage a vegetarian diet on our projects. No wifi & hand wash for clothes.

The commune of Urt, located in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, lies in the heart of the Basque Country, about 15 km northeast of Bayonne, along the Adour River which flows through its territory, offering a rich and green natural setting. Between mountains and sheep and cow pastures, this work site, surrounded by nature, will be an opportunity to discover this village, its inhabitants, its gastronomic specialties, and the nearby hiking trails. The various work sites are in the middle of nature, and sometimes you have to walk a bit to reach them. This is therefore a work site that requires a certain level of physical fitness and a desire to spend time outdoors. The surrounding area also offers a wider range of activities, such as trips to the seaside in Bayonne or Biarritz, cultural visits and water sports on the Basque coast, all less than 30 minutes away. Outside of work hours, you can discover Basque heritage, its villages, its cultural and gastronomic traditions, and its magnificent landscapes between the ocean and the mountains!

As some water sports may be planned for leisure time, it's better if you know how to swim!

Don't forget to bring work clothes and closed shoes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
In the mountains, despite the sunshine, the weather is surprising and can change rapidly.
For leisure activities, you'll need to pack clothes suited to the climate (warm fleece or jumper, shorts and hiking trousers, windbreaker, warm socks, etc.). For hiking, closed “high top” shoes are recommended. Don't forget sun protection (a hat or cap is essential, sunglasses with a high protection factor because of the intense reflection, sun cream with a high protection factor IP 30-50, etc.) and a swimming suit for swimming!

This project is supported by the program European Solidarity Corps for young people between 18 and 30 years. It is open to all volunteers that fit the ESC criteria.
The participation to the ESC volunteering teams is subjected to several principles and conditions, presented on the ESC webpage: https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity/mission_en
Volunteers do not have to pay any fee (no sending, nor participation fee) to attend the project;

- Volunteers need to enroll in the PASS, the European Solidarity Corps Portal; Concordia France will organise their matching, on the online system, with the volunteering project;
- Volunteers will receive pocket money, calculated on basis of 8€/day, once they arrive on the project in France.
- Volunteers will receive a financial support for their travel, according to a maximum amount established in accordance with their travel distance and upon the presentation of original tickets;

Your tickets have to be uploaded on the CONFIRMATION FORM. Please fill the confirmation form when you receive the Infosheet. This is MANDATORY for all ESC participants. If you fail to provide your transport tickets on time, your participation may be cancelled. The tickets have to be shared a month before the project. In the case of last minute application, the delay will be of two days.
Volunteers will have to complete a participation report, submitted online through the portal.

The meeting point is at BIARRITZ SNCF station on 12/06 in the late afternoon.

The exact meeting time will be communicated with the route map, sent out no later than 4 weeks before the start of the project.

There are several direct trains from Paris Gare Montparnasse. The journey takes approximately 5 hours.

If possible, please consider using low-carbon transportation (train and bus rather than airplane) for a sustainable international workcamp.

Train reservations can be made approximately 4 months before departure on the SNCF website, link below: https://www.sncf-connect.com/