November at Salina Nature Reserve opened with laughter, conversation and meaningful intergenerational exchange. On 3 November, BirdLife Malta hosted the first multiplier event of the ROOTED Project (Reconnection and Outreach of Adults: Teaching Environmental Discovery). Led by BirdLife Malta with partners in Spain, Greece, Slovakia and Poland, and co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, the project aims to reconnect adults and seniors with nature through creativity, digital tools and shared learning.
Held in collaboration with CareMalta Group, the event welcomed more than 40 residents from local care facilities, many of whom are living with dementia. Guided by BirdLife Malta staff, volunteers and young members of the Nature Guardians programme, participants explored birdwatching, discovered local wildlife and joined a creative workshop to produce nature-inspired decorations for their care home gardens.
For many attendees, the experience was deeply personal. The energy was incredible. You could see people light up as they remembered the countryside of their childhood or saw a bird through binoculars for the first time. The residents truly enjoyed the human connection, the hugs, smiles, conversations with children and the peaceful moments outdoors.
The day encouraged intergenerational interaction, with young Nature Guardians supporting residents throughout the activities. BirdLife Malta CEO Mark Sultana emphasised the importance of such exchanges in strengthening community ties. The event also featured remarks by James Sciriha, CEO of CareMalta Group, who highlighted the value of wellbeing and inclusion for older adults, and by Hon. Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, Parliamentary Secretary for European Funds, who commended the collaboration and the use of EU resources to promote education and community engagement through nature.
These moments demonstrate the power of nature to connect people across ages. In 2026, similar events will be organised by partner organisations across Europe, strengthening a growing network committed to inclusive, nature-based learning.
ROOTED is grounded in a simple premise: spending time in nature supports physical, emotional and mental wellbeing. Yet many seniors face barriers such as reduced mobility, urban surroundings or limited access to green spaces. The project seeks to address these challenges by offering practical, accessible ways to experience nature, from improved care home gardens to guided walks in parks and reserves.
Bringing nature closer: digitally and physically
The project blends outdoor activity with digital innovation to ensure nature is accessible to all. Key outputs include a Handbook of Nature Walks, offering easy routes in each partner country that highlight biodiversity, cultural heritage and accessibility, and a Manual for Organisations Working with Adults, providing step-by-step guidance for creating green spaces and integrating nature-based activities into daily routines.
ROOTED has also launched an interactive website and a Spotify podcast series featuring stories from seniors and environmental educators. To support digital inclusion, the project is installing interactive touchscreens and live-streaming cameras in nature reserves and care homes. These will broadcast real-time wildlife footage directly into communal spaces, ensuring that residents with limited mobility can still observe birds, seasonal changes and natural habitats.
The ROOTED partnership brings together organisations with strong expertise in environmental education and community engagement: BirdLife Malta, SEO/BirdLife (Spain), the Hellenic Ornithological Society (Greece), OTOP (Poland) and Europsky Dialog (Slovakia). This collaboration strengthens the project's educational impact and supports the exchange of good practice across Europe.
A growing legacy
The success of the Salina event marks only the beginning. Further activities and workshops will continue throughout 2026, along with new educational materials that will be shared across all partner countries. ROOTED is demonstrating that environmental education is not only about conservation. It is also about community, wellbeing and connection. Whether through a podcast, a nature walk or a shared conversation between generations, the project highlights that nature truly belongs to everyone.
If you would like to share your own memories of nature for the project's podcast series, please contact [email protected].