The mountain lodge at Naravske Ledine, located on the slopes of Uršlja Gora, has expanded its range of facilities with a new outdoor children’s playground that encourages families to spend their free time in an active and healthy way. In addition to the rich natural and cultural heritage that surrounds this excursion destination, young children will now have new equipment on which to develop their motor skills. The opening of the playground, which was designed by the Ravne na Koroškem alpine association, took place during the 14th season of the “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains”, which is run by Zavarovalnica Triglav.
Children’s playground at the occasional home of Water Man and Urška
The mountain lodge at Naravske Ledine has long enticed hikers and climbers of all generations, particularly families and young children, to discover the rich natural and cultural heritage that Uršlja Gora has to offer. “There are many stories about Uršlja Gora and its surroundings. One of them is Water Man and Urška, who made a temporary home here, and about whom we have published a special booklet this year. This is part of our attempt to ensure that hikers, who mostly only go to the top of Uršlja Gora, also stop here on their way up. The area offers many opportunities for a unique countryside experience: short walks, foraging for herbs and mushrooms, and exploring nature and legends. Now, with the support of Zavarovalnica Triglav, we have a new outdoor play area for children, which further confirms that we are a family- and child-friendly lodge,” says Veronika Kotnik, president of the Ravne na Koroškem alpine association.
Fourth playground in Koroška for the Children of Triglav
The new playground at Naravske Ledine consists of four swings and a multi-purpose hut featuring a climbing wall, rope, ladder and slide, giving our youngest hikers the chance to develop their motor skills through outdoor play. The creation of the playground was also supported by Zavarovalnica Triglav through the “Children of Triglav” campaign, which has so far helped to install more than 50 playgrounds throughout Slovenia. “At Triglav, we have so far supported the installation of four playgrounds in Koroška and 53 playgrounds throughout Slovenia. The Children of Triglav played at Naravske Ledine for the first time today, but in the last few years they’ve also had the chance to enjoy themselves in the surrounding area at Košenjak and at two playgrounds in Mežica. These activities encourage young children, as well as their parents, grandparents and others, to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle. The opening of the playgrounds in the mountains is traditionally associated with the ‘Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains’ campaign, which is now in its 14th season and continues to encourage hikers to use the mountains safely and responsibly," explained Triglav’s Boris Mori on the occasioning of the unveiling of the playground.
Opening of the playground under the auspices of the “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains” campaign
The opening of the new play area on the slopes of Uršlja Gora is one of the milestones of the 14th season of Zavarovalnica Triglav’s “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains” campaign. The campaign organisers are already planning activities to provide hikers with tips on how to walk more safely in the mountains in the winter months. Here are some of the figures from the campaign so far:
- After 14 seasons of the “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains” campaign, the Children of Triglav now have six playgrounds to play in that are located on the peaks and slopes of Slovenia’s mountains, giving a total of 53 playgrounds across Slovenia, (including those in towns and villages).
- In cooperation with the Slovenian Alpine Association, Zavarovalnica Triglav has organised the 6th edition of the Best Hiking Trail competition, with trail markers renovating five Slovenian mountain trails in recent years. This year’s winning trail, which will spring back to life from next summer, is the path that stretches between the Brana and Planjava peaks.
- As part of its efforts to improve the fire safety of mountain huts and lodges, Zavarovalnica Triglav have, via the “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains” campaign, equipped more than 90 mountain rest stops with equipment for preventing the spread of fire.
- In its 14 years, Triglav’s “Let’s Clean Up Our Mountains” campaign has acquired almost 36,000 ambassadors who are actively helping to create a community of lovers of pristine mountains on social media.
- According to the campaign’s organisers, hikers and mountaineers have cleared away more than 30 tonnes of rubbish since the start of the nationwide campaign.
