The main impression of the countryside is of huge, prairie-like fields, full of maize, sunflowers and oilseed rape; this is a result of the collective farms established by the communist authorities. After the collapse of communism these farms were returned to the landlords, and many have become owned by agribusiness firms and Danish pig farms. The villages are composed of traditional houses, close together but each with a long strip of garden or smallholding; everyone seems to grow vegetables and grapevines. Apple trees everywhere loaded with fruit; Walnut trees also abundant, even planted as avenues along roads, and we saw several people filling bags with the nuts….    more »

The Ipel Union is a Non Governmental Organisation funded in December 1992 that covers the Ipel River’s catchment area, two thirds of which lies in Southern Slovakia while the other third lies in Northern Hungary. The total area amounts to 5,100 square kilometres. The mission of the Ipel Union is to conserve and revitalise the natural, cultural and environmental heritage of the Ipel Valley. The landscape of the Ipel Valley is very characteristic and includes various types of wetland habitats, swamps and meadows, alluvial forest (mainly Turkey Oak) and grazing fields. The revitalisation of the wetland habitats in the watershed area, with particular attention to the Poiplie Ramsar Site, is one of the main goals of the Ipel Union, following the canalisation of the Ipel River in the 70s and early 80s and the subsequent loss of habitats. The land use of the area is mixed, with predominant practices being agriculture and forestry, with very little industry. The forestry cover of Slovakia is 40% of the total land surface, while Hungary’s 30% - these percentages are quite high when compared to the UK forestry cover (12%) but in line with the European average woodiness, which is 36%.    more »

Itinerary: Nature Exchange Southern Slovakia, Ipel Union 29th August – 5th September 2008    more »