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Trip Around the World – An educational trail the World has never seen

Třeboň, 30 September 2016:In a festive ceremony, the Czech Union for Nature Conservation (ČSOP) today opened the restored Trip Around the World to the general public. This educational trail may be rather traditional in terms of its layout, but certainly not in terms of its concept. The total of 17 panels that you will encounter as you amble along the shores of the pond "Svět" (in English: “World”) near Třeboň are bound to captivate your attention, and even more so that of the children among the visitors. Instead of dozens of lines of bone-dry text, complex drawings and strictly didactic photos, you will find witty, colourful and inspiring info panels that seek to entertain as much as they seek to educate. On your Trip Around the World, you may become inspired by numerous games, quizzes and suggestions for activities that one can try out right then and there. The world is ever changing, and with it our view of what an educational trail should be like! This particular trail is already the fifth site within the region of South Bohemia that has been made accessible to the general public under the auspices of the NET4GAS Closer to Nature programme, and the seventy-seventh nationwide.

The original educational trail "A Trip Around the World" was opened on 21 June 1985, and thus turned 31 this year. The last refurbishment took place in 1997, and since then the trail had been exposed to the ravages of time. The aging trail urgently needed repair – a challenge that called to action Václav Bartuška, chairman of the local ČSOP chapter in Třeboň. He made use of the opportunity to raise funds provided by the NET4GAS Closer to Nature programme, rolled up his sleeves, and set to work on the refurbishment. His experience with environmental awareness classes, and years of practice working with and teaching children in an outdoor setting, all contributed to the final appearance of the info panels. Who would have thought that the rhizome of cattail can be turned into a nutritious snack, or that blueberries can be used to paint a beautiful picture? That a blade of reed may serve well as a pen, and many of them together as roofing material? Do you like comics? If so, come and see for yourself that an educational trail is not merely a marked route for hiking, with some additional information slapped on, but that the trail can be a source of enjoyment and inspiration, as you open your mind and focus on your surroundings in the here and now.

"Seventy-seven sites of nature over the course of 10 years of collaborating with the ČSOP: these are the achievements of NET4GAS Closer to Nature, a programme aimed at motivating people to go outside and experience nature and wildlife. The authors of the new interactive trail around the Svět pond have certainly succeeded in achieving this worthy goal," said Radek Benčík, Managing Director and COO of NET4GAS.

The trail leads through scenery that is typical of the area around Třeboň, with fishponds, forests, fields and meadows, as well as authentic farmsteads. Along its 12-km length, there are countless opportunities to come across both common and protected plants and animals, such as the bog arum (calla) and the Eurasian otter. Given the many foreigners who visit Třeboň, all texts have been translated into English. The educational trail's starting point lies in the spa park near Hotel Svět (49.0012925 N, 14.7567339 E).

Contact Details:

Kateřina AdámkováZuzana Kučerová

Office ofČSOP Executive CouncilNET4GAS, s.r.o.

T: 731760872T: 739537273

E: E:

The Czech Union for Nature Conservation is a group of people who love nature and share an active interest in nature conservation. It currently has close to 7,000 members, some of whom hail from the ranks of professional naturalists, but others are enthusiastic volunteers, while some are adults and others are children. Everyone can help. Do you love nature? Then join us! For more information, visit

NET4GAS is both a reliable and safe gas transmission system operator, and at the same time pursues a responsible policy aimed at protecting nature and the environment with respect to current and future generations. This principle not only underlies the company’s responsible entrepreneurship, but is also the basis for its long-term strategy of corporate philanthropy and sponsorship, which has been implemented under the programme NET4GAS Closer to Nature since 2007. NET4GAS is a long-term general partner of the Czech Union for Nature Conservation, supporting restoration and openings of valuable natural sites to the public, and national environmental competitions Golden Leaf and Ecological Olympiad, organized by the Association of young conservationists of the ČSOP. More information about the program and locations made accessible can be found at

Overview of the 75 sites opened to the public by Czech Union for Nature Conservation under the NET4GAS Closer to Nature programme

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2007

NT Klíč Valley, Svor / Česká Lípa

NT Hloučela Biocorridor, Prostějov

Opičák, Liberec

Jelenice, Pozořice / Brno-venkov

Myslík Quarry, Myslík / Frýdek-Místek

NT Milovice Observation Post, Milovice / Nymburk

2008

NT Footpaths in the Beskid Foothills, Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem / Frýdek-Místek

NT A Forest Full of Senses, Krásná Lípa / Děčín

NT Bludov Hillside, Bludov / Šumperk

NT Vinoř Park – Satalice Pheasantry, Praha-Vinoř

Golden Hill, Bečov nad Teplou / Karlovy Vary

Kamenec, Kamenec u Radnic / Rokycany

NT Zvole Hummock, Zvole u Prahy

NT Fryšták, Fryšták / Zlín

Salamander Spring, Myslík / Frýdek-Místek

NT Velký Košíř, Litomyšl / Svitavy

NT Mnichov Serpentinite, Prameny / Cheb

NT Hasina Valley, Lipno / Louny

Chlum Quarry, Srbsko / Beroun

Mokroš Biocentre, Mořice / Prostějov

NT Zahrady, Český Brod / Kolín

Blahutovice Observation Post, Blahutovice / Nový Jičín

NT Votočnice, Sázava / Benešov

2009

Rezavka, Ostrava

Štěpán Nature Reserve, Děhylov / Ostrava

NT Medník, Hradišťko / Praha-západ

Vladař Mountain, Vladořice / Karlovy Vary

NT Podkovák, Lesná / Tachov

Kudlačena, Horní Bečva / Vsetín

Podlešák's Elm, Vimperk-Boubská / Prachatice

Above the River, Bečov nad Teplou / Karlovy Vary

2010

Choryn Wetland Nature Reserve, Lešná / Valašské Meziříčí

NT Water World, Lesná / Domažlice

Poustka, Pozořice / Brno-venkov

Skalka Nature Reserve, Kunčice pod Ondřejníkem / Frýdek-Místek

NT Sudslavice Circuit, Vimperk / Prachatice

Žák's Hill National Nature Reserve, Cikháj / Žďár nad Sázavou

Moses Spring - Emperor's Stone, Vesec / Liberec

Semanín Trail, Semanín / Ústí nad Orlicí

2011

NT Na cvičišti - At the Training Ground, Valašské Meziříčí / Vsetín

Střelenská Meadow, Střelná / Teplice

Capartice Meadows, Capartice / Domažlice

Chlum Mountain Nature Reserve, Chlum / Karlovy Vary

Manor Rock Natural Monument, Habrovany / Vyškov

NT Around Vřesina, Vřesina / Opava

NT Saint Vitus Guild, Trstěnice / Cheb

2012

Litovice Pond Bird-Watching Spot, Litovice / Praha-západ

Kolo Wetland, Slavkov / Uherské Hradiště

NT Vidžín - Telecí potok, Vidžín / Plzeň-sever

NT Housle, Praha-Lysolaje

Pančava, Pozořice / Slavkov

NT Mýto, Nedvězí / Prague

Bohumilice Avenue, Bohumilice / Prachatice

Ořešník, Hejnice / Liberec

NT Heřmanice Pond, Heřmanice / Ostrava

2013

Lačnov Crocuses, Lačnov / Vsetín

NT Umíř, Plachtín / Plzeň-sever

NT Pňov Mead, Pňov-Předhradí / Kolín

NT St. John's Rapids, Štěchovice / Praha-západ

Třemešské rybníky Bird-Watching Spot, Dolní Studénky / Šumperk

Path to Sulphurous Springs, Zádveřice / Zlín

2014

NT Libušín Fortification, Libušín / Kladno

Lušová Valley, Lušová / Vsetín

NT Zásmuky Pheasantry, Zásmuky / Kolín

Canopy Road Beneath Hořínkova Forester's Lodge, Buchlovice / Uherské Hradiště

NT Chlum, Nepřevázka, Mladá Boleslav

NT Through landscape of floods, Jeseník nad Odrou / Nový Jičín

NT Hády Quarries and Surroundings / Brno

2015

NT Vesec Valley, Liberec

NT Choryně Sentinel, Vsetín

Kozmice Bird Meadows, Opava

Shooting Range Trail,Děčín

Velká Homolka, Vimperk/ Prachatice

Valley of the Springs, Prague

2016

Jinošov Quarry, Vlašim / Benešov

Olešná Brook, Němčovice / Rokycany

Trip around the World, Třeboň / Jindřichův Hradec

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NT = nature trail

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