November 28, we started the second edition of the training course for eductors-animators and guides in the Land of the Horseshoe Bat. First training has been placed in the picturesque spots of Beskid Wyspowy and Pogórze Wiśnickie. The outreach has been much wider than the Land of the Horseshoes! Participants came from Kraków, Miechów, Żarki, Olewin, Brzoskwinka, Kroczyce, Lubaszowa, Krynica-Zdrój, Limanowa, Majscowa, Katowice, Zabrze, Częstochowa, Izbicko koło Opola, Kielce, Łódź, Wrocław, Mirsk and Iława.
At first, we met in Szczyrzyc, where Łukasz Bajer invited us to take part in the Dusiołek Górski Raid, and presented some local curiosities. History of Szczyrzyc has been presented by Patrycja Kowalczyk – tourist guide. Then we headed towards Mt. Cieteń, where we could see up close the bat tower under construction, which was explained to us by Rafał Szkudlarek, coordinator of the LIFE+ Podkowiec Towers project.
Herbalist Paulina Żakieta took us on a journey into the world of scents of the Land of the Horseshoe Bat. In Szyk, our guide was parish priest Grzegorz Ochał. He told us about the historic church and the miraculous painting on the main altar. He also mentioned the bats, thanks to whose presence the temple gained a new roof in a project dedicated to their protection. At the Open-Air Museum in Jędrzejkówka and the Farmstead in Jędrzejkówka in Laskowa, the following speakers took part in the training panel: Michał Winiarski, Kasia Janik-Superson (OTON), Łukasz Hajduk and Rafał Szkudlarek. We were hosted by Barbara, Krzysztof and Grzegorz Jędrzejkowie. At the end, we participated in a cabaret performance by Danuta Waligóra and bat fortune-telling prepared by Izabella Zamachowska.
Sunday morning greeted us with fog. We met with Przemysław Bawołek at the Sądecki House of History in Żmiąca. Thanks to him, we learned many interesting facts about the former inhabitants of this region. After visiting Strzeszyce, we went to Wiśniowy Gaj in Kobyłczyn. Here, Irena Szewczyk told us how to conduct interesting classes for children. There were many more historically and bat-related places we visited along the way. Among them were the churches in Ujanowice and Kamionka Mała, the granary in Łąkta Górna and the church in Trzciana.
We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the hosts of the Castle in Wieruszyce for leading the activities and for their hospitality: Olivia Skrzyńska and Amelia Skrzyńska. We would like to thank Ewelina Więckowska (Biology from the Green Hat) for preparing surprising riddles featuring bats. Karin Grandys, who made the common room in Leksandrów available to us. We would also like to thank the Museum of the Wiśnica Region in Nowy Wiśnicz. It was here, at the castle in Nowy Wiśnicz, that participants had the opportunity to see trees growing in pots, marking the flight path of horseshoe bats, and the illumination of the castle, specially modified to improve the habitat conditions for bats. We also visited a prototype forest hut for bats in Chronów, which is being built in 11 forest districts in southern Poland as part of the LIFE+ Podkowiec Towers project. Emotions were running high!
The final meeting took place in the picturesque Land of Vesna. Here, we were treated to stories about dreams come true by Michał Kita (Michał’s Whole World) and a competition for the champion of the Land of Podkowiec. At the end, we announced the winners of the Horseshoe Ambassador Championship. Ewa, Mariusz and Piotr won the competition with a score of 1070 Bat-coins.
The next meeting will take place on 12–14 December 2025 in the Beskid Niski and Bieszczady mountains! Participants can look forward to more bat-related surprises, a wealth of knowledge and the opportunity to test their skills in the field. Our adventure will last for the next few months. We will hike in the Carpathians, Sudetes and Jura Mountains and visit many places important for bat conservation in southern Poland.
The training is organised by the Polish Society of Wildlife Friends ‘pro Natura’ as part of the LIFE+ Podkowiec Towers project.
With mango even larvae are tasty
With an e-referral from Górskie Zmysły, you can set off on interesting trips in the mountains with alembic.
In Żmiąca, we were greeted by Irena Szewczyk and Przemysław Bawołek
During the field game in Wieruszyce
We’ve been creating Scents of the Horseshoe Land. 
The Champion of the Horseshoe Land on his Throne
Our trainees in Strzeszyce
The group at the emerging bat tower
