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“The Wild Farm” from NTG Network awarded with Biodiversity Award 2014
„The Wild Farm” in the village of Gorno Pole (Eastern Rhodopes), a member of the New Thracian Gold network is a winner in the Annual Biodiversity Awards 2014. The farm of Blagovesta and Nikolay Vassilievi received the Audience Award in the section “Pro biodiversity businesses”.
More than 20 years “The Wild Farm” support the biodiversity conservation in the Madzharavo Natura 2000 zone. The family maintains more than 300 ha pastures and meadows with their 700 Rodopi Shorthorn cattle and Bulgarian Grey cattle (both protected breeds). Betty and Nicki grow the animals in a natural way. In 2013, the losses were 40 cattle and in 2014 so far – 25. This is a key source of food for the unique in Bulgaria natural population of griffon vulture and several pairs of Egyptian vultures in the area in Madzharovo.
“The Wild Farm” participates in nature conservation projects like the LIFE+ project “The return of the Neophron” with an additional feeding and guarding of vultures nests, and communicating widely the importance of the protection of the vultures and biodiversity. Check out their website: http://bedandbirding-rhodopes.bg/
Vasiliev's family is very active in all three components of the project New Thracian Gold: they develop ecotourism, produce organic products and grow in a natural way cattle of local breeds.
In their new guest house Betty and Nikolay can accommodate guests in six rooms. The family combines various entrepreneurial interests. Their farm has an organic farming certification for the veal, honey and vegetables from their garden and also for the pastures where the animals graze. Besides the delicious organic and local food Vassilievi's family offers numerous activities - horseback riding, boating, picnics in the forest, searching for honey from wild bees, catching a wild cattle with a lasso, watching vultures, which can be seen from their backyard...
Congratulation, Betty and Nicki! And keep doing your great nature protection work!
See here photos form the ceremony of Biodiversity Awards 2014
