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Period |
May
28 (Wednesday) – June 1 (Sunday) |
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Location
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The
meeting was held on the island Texel, in the North-West of The
Netherlands, between the North Sea and the Wadden sea.
The ferry to
Texel
departs every hour from 06:30 till 21:30. Departure is from the harbour
of Den Helder. The trip takes 20 minutes and costs 25 € round-trip per car,
passengers included. No reservations for the ferry. During peak
hours, the ferries redouble and departure will be every half hour. |
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Lodging |
Lodging
was in the hostel Stayokay (see picture). This is a nice hostel on Texel with 2, 4 and 6 bed
rooms (bunk beds), open since September 2006. The hotel do not provide
towels, people have to bring their own towels.
Bed sheets, blankets and pillow are provided.
The hostel
is located in the centre of Texel,
at walking distance of the beautiful village Den Burg and at 6 km from the North Sea
shore.
Hostel
Stayokay
Address: Haffelderweg 29, 1791 AS Den Burg, Texel
tel: +31 222 31 5441
www.stayokay.com
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click
on the maps to enlarge, or below on the images to enlarge |
Hostel
Stayokay |
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'Texel
Experience'
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The
2008 IFWP meeting was dedicated to the creation of 'The
Texel Experience', a slideshow created during the
meeting. The aim was to make a photographic impression of Texel as seen
by the eyes and camera's of more than 50 international nature
photographers, shot and composed during the four days at the end
of May. It was a fantastic success, 75 photographers
came to Texel and many of them contribute to the slideshow.
This
year we have challenged all participants. To put their photographic talent at work to participate in the creation of
the ultimate result. The idea was that 'The Texel Experience' should
be an
encompassing impression of the multi faceted nature on and
around the island. Texel
is a birds’ paradise, but don’t forget the unique flora!
There are many special species (Orchids, Parnassia, and many
others). And then there are the breathtaking landscapes.
All participants
were asked to copy their best catch of the day to the
slide show team. Therewith they have given the team the right to use
the pictures for 'The Texel Experience' as part of the show.
The images will be used by the team of IFWP for the 'The Texel Experience'
slideshow and promotional purposes for IFWP and the slideshow,
for example in a later publication about 'The Texel Experience'.
During the meeting the team of experienced slideshow makers have
created a high-impact show featuring the most expressive
pictures. The show was presented at the end of the meeting on the Saturday night in a
local theater ( At 'The Krim'). Afterwards all participants
received a DVD with the slideshow of 'The Texel Experience'. We
will try to create an IFWP publication
based on the collected material. |
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Program |
There
have been daily field trips in small groups to many nature
hotspots. To mention some: the Slufter, a marsh and creek
system in the old dunes; Mokbaai is a mud bay with many birds; De Hors,
new
dunes and sand planes with little lakes; De Schorren, mud plates
off the Wadden coast; Wagejot, a lake or pool with several small
bird islands; Waal en Burg, an old polder in the centre of the island with
wetlands, a small stream and Willow marsh.
On
the first day of the congress, we
all together have made a boat trip on the Waddensea
at low tide for Common seals and Grey seals resting on
the dry sand banks. We
have been very lucky with the weather, nice soft light and not
to warm. Some of the grey seals were very curious and came to
the boat to give us nice opportunities for images.
After
dinner people went out for the sunset. In the evenings there
were workshops, presentation of slideshows
and all the good things that make IFWP meetings to the high point
of the year.
The
first fieldtrip have been held on the day of arrival and several
people have been already on the island for some days before the
beginning of the congress.
The meeting of the representatives of the associations
has been held.
The beautiful biological information station
Ecomare has been visited.
Saturday
night was the night of the presentations of 'The Texel Experience'
and of the results of the photo contest. The show was open for the
public and was a great success. See the journal page for a photo
impression of the hole meeeting. |
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Workshop |
We
have several proposals for workshops, where small groups of
people with the same questions or the same interest can work
together, in one or more evenings for example.
Please, use the special column on the participation form to let us know what
you do prefer. This is
without obligation for you, but it will be an indication for us
how to prepare the congress. We
think that
several people will bring a laptop.
We have 2 rooms and several projection screens
and digital projectors (1024x768
px). Please indicate also if somebody like to
use a slide projector.
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Course
about the digital imaging program Adobe Lightroom, also possible
in German.
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Discussion
the methods for example for sharping of digital images.
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Other
imaging questions. Suggestion: ...……
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Image
or slideshow presentations
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IFWP
photo competition
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The
traditional competition is held as usual. Information about
the competition is provided together with this information for
the congress, see downloads. During 3 years now there has been an extra
category with a special subject. We decided to do that too and
again the subject will be Diaporama. This year no distinguish
has been made between a group and an individual production, both
are allowed. The only limitation is time: a diaporama may not
exceed 6 minutes.
The results of the competition have been presented at the Saturday
night presentation. |
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Best
Image of Texel
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Before
the meeting we have announced an extra happening: the competition for
the best image made during our congress on Texel. This idea
still have to be worked out yet. |
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Costs
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The whole event
have cost € 250,- per person, including 4 nights at the hostel, all meals and excursions.
Drinks and travel costs were extra. |
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More
information |
There are many campings on
the island and several of them have mobil homes to hire, but this is
not cheap. There are many hotels too. Hostel Stayokay is
a less expensive one among the big hotels but caters more for
groups. Small
hotels are often less expensive and they conform to individual
guests. More
information to be
find at the internet, websites often
have English and German versions.
Hotels information
Tourist information
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Texel – nature – information
Texel measures about 24 by 10 kilometres. The Island harbours 6 villages
and almost half the island population of 13.000 live in the village of Den Burg.
100 years ago Texel was a poor island of sheepfarmers and fisherman, but nowadays
the turists are more lucrative than the sheep and the fish.
The North Sea shore
is protected by a wide strip of sand dunes with marshes and pools, which is a
nature reserve. The other side borders the Wadden sea, a vast tidal area that
forms a feeding zone for thousands of birds. Throughout the island there are
many interesting nature spots, like the ponds at Wagejot, the polders Waal
and Burg, and De Bol.
The island is small, therefor it is easy to find a nice place for birding,
even for a couple of hours. You can go out after dinner again for some photo shooting
just before dark, it is only a 10 minutes drive to the beach, or ten minutes to
the other side to see the Evocettes at Wagejot close by.
National Park Dunes of Texel (4300
hectare)
National
Park Dunes of Texel (Duinen van Texel)
is formed by the varied ecosystems of the complete dunes area, including the new
dunes at the south point (sandbank De Hors), the woods in de centerpart of the
dunes, and De Slufter, which is a large marsh area behind the dunes, but with a
narrow opening to the North sea where the tidal stream goes in and out.
In the National Park some parts are closed for the public in the breeding
period (March 1 – August 16). But you wil have plenty other opportunities to
see those species that are breeding here like Spoonbills, Owls, Harriers and
Terns.
Flora
Each of the terrains within the National Park has its own characteristic flora.
In the dune-slacks, uncommon vegetation, such as Grass
of Parnassus, early
marsh orchids, Marsh helleborine, and the Chaff weed can be found. The age of
the dunes also influences the vegetation. The young dunes close to the
waterfront contain proportionally more lime. This is where Marram grass in
particular is frequently found. The older dunes lying more inland have a lime
deficiency. The lime dissolves in the rainwater and sinks to the bottom. Various
types of heather grow well here. The extensive nature area, the Slufter, is an
exceptional place. Through an opening in the row of dunes, the seawater flows
through this plain. The salt-tolerant flora found here is predominantly Sea
lavender, Thrift, Sea woodworm and Annual seablite.
Fauna
The value Texel possesses as a ’bird island’ is determined to a large degree
by the richness of birds found in the dunes. Every year, approximately 80 types
of birds breed here, among which the Spoonbill, Little tern and the Short-eared
owl are some of the rarest, and the Lesser black-backed gull is one of the most
numerous.
During migration time, the dunes are an important resting and foraging area for
ten thousands of birds. Due to its isolated situation, the number of mammals
found on Texel is small. One finds: stoats, rabbits, hares, brown rats,
hedgehogs, five species of mice (among which the root vole), and a few kinds of
bats (especially the serotine). Among the amphibians found on Texel, one can
find the common and Moor frog, the Natterjack toad and the Smooth newt.
In the Waddensea live hundreds of Common seals and Grey seals.
Management
For centuries now, planting Marram grass has been a recurrent task in order to
fight large-scale sand-drifting in the dunes. On a small scale, sand-drift can
actually mean renewal and replenishment. In several of the dune-slacks, the
State Forestry regularly trims bushes and grass in order to prevent overgrowth
which could lead to the disappearance of extraordinary plants and animals.
Grazing animals such as sheep, cattle or horses are also used for this purpose.
Sometimes, a large one-time intervention will take place to end an undesirable
development.
Hiking and bicycle paths, horse trails, playgrounds, outlook points and other
facilities are also maintained by the State Forestry, making it possible to
enjoy the surrounding nature.
Hiking in the National Park
A network of paths have been laid out, most of which are open to the public. The coloured posts have various
meanings:
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a
through-way, for example, to the beach |
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a
circular tour, goes round and back to the starting point |
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a
path in a (protected) rest-area; not open to the public from 1 March to 16
August
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a nature path |
All paths
in the woods are open to the public.
More information:
www.ecomare.nl
www.nioz.nl
www.seaonscreen.org/seaonscreen.html
www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOP_5DVFQQ?Opendocument
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