The location of the event fully confirmed the slogan forged for the project: “Horseshoes have style!”. The Ball Room of the castle hosted lectures on the lesser horseshoe bat, and on the LIFE Podkowiec+ conservation project. It was a good opportunity to inform about the 25th anniversary of the EU LIFE financial mechanism, supporting conservation of nature important at the European Community level.
Participants of the event were the first to experience visit of the castle as seen by the lesser horseshoe bat. Special stereo-vision headset displaying 3D-movie taken inside the castle, gives an impression of a walk along the maze of corridors, rooms and staircases. Suddenly the perspective changes, and the spectator has an impression of flying through the castle interior like a bat.
There were many more attractions, exposition stands with the regional product, lectures on the region of the Wiśnicz Foothills. Presentations on bats answered many questions, like where is the source of prejudice against bats, or whether the horseshoe (that has a style, after all) prefers castles or palaces, or finally, why not to enter caves in Winter. Those with their own smartphones or laptops could take part in the quiz on lesser horseshoe bat, using modern technology.
The question whose contribution to bat conservation will be recognised this time, was answered, too. During the event, the Golden Horseshoe medals for individuals was handed to Ms Bożena Kotońska – Regional Nature Conservator in Kraków, Rev. Jan Pipka from the Greek Catholic Church in Krynica Zdrój, Andrzej and Jolanta Węgiel – for their many-year engagement into lesser horseshoe bat conservation.
The Quality Sign Horseshoe Land, for institutions, was awarded to the Tarnów Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church, Pieniny National Park, Cistercian Abbey in Szczyrzyc, Regional Directorate for Environment in Kraków and the host of the event – Museum of the Wiśnicz Land.
