The village – a lifetime dream. Colourful and active regions attract visitors

Berlin, 5 November 2007 – Did you know what "Heidemagnete" and a "Klosterbruder" are, and where Europe’s longest rollerblading circuit is? A combined show entitled "The village – a lifetime dream" will provide visitors to the International Green Week Berlin 2008 (18 – 27 Jan.) with an informative and entertaining insight into the experiences and secrets which rural areas in Germany and Europe have in store. Visitors of all ages can pan for gold in Hall 21, watch a glass blower, or try out genuine Thuringian dumplings as well as other regional specialities. They can meet "Luther & Co." and find out why volcanoes are not "old hat". Representatives from rural holiday regions will be revealing the best places worth looking into for a vacation, the EU joint initiative LEADER+ will be showing how people with ideas are joining forces to realise their (lifelong) dream of living in a village. There is always something happening on the large Land Show stage, where farmers, town mayors, celebrities, vicars, choirs, chefs, musicians and mascots will all be appearing. Well-known hosts Heike Gtz and Petra Schwarz will present the programme, with music and information, original ideas and activities, acquainting audiences with rural regions in a likeable way.

Brandenburg: the Teltow-Flming region – a rural paradise

Using the community of Teltow-Flming as an example, the Brandenburg State stand will be highlighting numerous facets of integrated rural development and special tourism aspects. Taking as its slogan "Actively live the dream – Teltow-Flming", the stand will show how agriculture, nature conservation, tourism, culture and rural development in the Berlin-Brandenburg region can be combined in interesting ways.

Berlin: all about horses

Happiness is sitting on the back of a horse. The Berlin stand will be inviting visitors to find out about one of the most important business sectors in farming in Berlin: keeping horses. Be it the wheel of fortune or hitting horseshoe nails, visitors to the fair will be able to find out facts about horses and stables, but also about the individual products and services of Berlin’s farming industry.

Hesse: a holiday region for visitors in search of adventure

Hesse will be presenting four of its holiday regions for visitors in search of adventure to enjoy. Hesse Day will provide facts and entertainment about hiking, water activities and cycling tours. Experience a concert with bicycle bells or delve into the fairytale world of Hesse. Yet another highlight: Hesse is a Land of culinary delights – taste, smell and enjoy the feel of regional products! Try a Brder Grimm cake or a fruit brandy. Incidentally, mangels can also be used to make lanterns and carve out faces.

Northrhine-Westphalia: with a laptop and a hunting hat

Taking as its slogan "With a laptop and a hunting hat" Northrhine-Westphalia will be presenting the East Wesphalian LEADER+ region of Brener Land, and will highlight how modernity, technical progress and maintaining one’s cultural heritage complement each other. There will be a competition to find the best virtual bird hunter. At the same the "Sindtfeldhhenwiesel" will invite visitors to walk a path barefoot, and a pharmacist from a monastery will introduce visitors to the secret medieval uses of herbs.

Schleswig-Holstein: active regions with a potential for future development

The focus at the Schleswig-Holstein stand will be on the neighbouring regions of Rendsburg and Dnischer Wohld, Httener Berge and Eckernfrde, areas where emphasis is being placed on future living space and business activities. These are regions with a significant potential for development as far as health, local recreation, tourism and shipbuilding are concerned. Taking as their slogan "The big wide world close to home" they will be exhibiting together at the Green Week. Their common link is the Kiel Canal, one of the world’s busiest artificial waterways, and as such of great international importance.

Thuringia: glass blowers and gold panners

This year the Free State of Thuringia will have a display presenting the community of Sonneberg, with a focus on modernising the village, land consolidation, the GRNES BAND (GREEN BAND), and the rural economy. This community situated in the south of Thuringia is home to well-established toy manufacturers. Visitors can look forward to special handicrafts such as a glass blowing demonstration from the colour glassworks in Lauscha. A professional gold prospector will give an amazing demonstration. Be it gold panning or making teddy bears, children and grown-ups will be equally delighted with the many activities.

BMELV: information on rural developments

The Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV) and the German offices responsible for networking rural areas will be showing rural developments in the Leader+ regions Auerbergland, Vulkan-Eifel and Dbener Heide, presenting a wide spectrum which includes new media and technologies, starting up companies and discovering nature. Find out how smartboards are coming to schools in rural communities, what "Heidemagnete" are and why volcanoes are not "old hat". Meet an osprey or "Mr. Luther & Co.", and make use of the extensive information available on rural development.

EU Commission: Brussels comes to Berlin

Represented by the General Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, in 2008 the European Commission will again have a stand and a wide-ranging programme in Hall 21b. Moderated games and a quiz on agriculture and the EU will provide an interesting programme for the whole family. Experts from the European Commission will be on hand to answer questions from farmers and members of the industry. Numerous brochures and publications on the EU stand will provide a further opportunity for detailed information on farming issues currently being discussed by the EU Commission, such as the fruit & vegetable reform, or the wine reform.

Leisure activities in the countries for people of all ages

The regional associations of "Holidays on the farm/leisure activities in the country" will be presenting a large variety of attractive farmsteads which not only offer holidays on the farm, but also direct contact with nature and animals. Families with children and health-conscious holidaymakers will find what they are in search of, so will visitors looking for art and culture in rural regions, as well as those who enjoy cycling, hiking and winter sports. Older citizens will also find a wealth of holiday activities.

ABZ: the largest training centre for the catering trade

The "ABZ Hotel Kurfrstendamm am Adenauerplatz" is Berlin’s largest training centre for the hotel and restaurant trade. The Internationale Bund (IB) runs courses for 350 to 380 mainly socially disadvantaged young people, training them for every kind of catering career, and will not only be revealing cooking secrets to Green Week visitors, but will also provide information on its unique training centre, which combines a training workshop, teaching and social supervision.

Land Show 2008: an entertaining programme of live events

In addition to the information provided by exhibitors there will also be a daily programme of stage events from 10.30 to 6 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on "Long Friday", 25 January. The following events are scheduled (subject to alterations)

Dates and times of events on the Land Show stage (subject to alterations):

Day a.m. p.m.
Friday, 18.01.2008
Opening
Northrhine-Westphalia Day

Saturday, 19.01.2008
Schleswig-Holstein Day
Free State of Thuringia Day

Sunday, 20.01.2008
Hesse Day
Land Show Live Programme

Monday, 21.01.2008
Land Show Live Programme
Brandenburg Day

Tuesday, 22.01.2008
Land Show Live Programme
Land Show Live Programme

Wednesday, 23.01.2008
Land Show Live Programme
Land Show Live Programme

Thursday, 24.01.2008
Land Show Live Programme
Land Show Live Programme

Friday, 25.01.2008
Berlin Day
Holidays and leisure activities in the country

Saturday, 26.01.2008
Holidays and leisure activities in the country
Holidays and leisure activities in the country

Sunday, 27.01.2008
Land Show Live Programme
Land Show Live Programme