SMURF PROJECT – The Forestry Consortium of Villa Basilica and AGRI CARE project
Introduction
Following the very positive experience in 2024 with the project funded by the Tuscany Region under the Rural Development Plan Measure 16.9 “IL BOSCO CHE CURA,” the Forestry Consortium participated in another social agriculture project funded by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, in collaboration with the Fondazione di Coesione Sociale, and led by the Calafata Agricultural Social Cooperative.
The project is titled: AGRI CARE – Agriculture Takes Care of Us
Activities
During 2025, we held a series of meetings on Forest Therapy, Environmental Education, and Community Initiatives, aimed at disadvantaged social groups and the children of the Villa Basilica nursery schools. The meetings took place locally and were led by professionals and consultants specializing in various subjects: farms and the naturalistic aspects of the area, rural history and culture, chestnut groves, and the health benefits of forests.
Date of Event
March 2025 – November 2025
Working Method: Sharing and Participation
From our perspective, the project represents an important opportunity for our local communities, for the activities and vocations they express, and for this reason we have planned opportunities for information, engagement, and co-planning, aimed at decision-makers, stakeholders, local associations, and local opinion leaders.
To date, we have involved the CEIS Foundation of Lucca, the La Salute Cooperative, the INSIEME ASP Association, the Montecarlo and Villa Basilica School, as entities that have supported us in defining the activities and identifying their final beneficiaries.
A number of local organizations, associations, and groups have been involved. The Municipality of Villa Basilica has given its patronage to the project.
A local meeting was organized on March 29th, in collaboration with the Municipality and several local entities. Two demonstration sessions of forest therapy were also organised, aimed at raising awareness among decision makers, stakeholders and opinion leaders about this practice and its possibilities, one on 3 May and the other on 28 June.
Meetings
A total of 20 meetings were planned with over 90 different participants:
– Approximately 40 children from the nursery school, in two different school years, with 6 teachers, for a total of 8 meetings
– Over 10 guests from the Centro la Comasca in Massa, with 6 educators, for 5 meetings (one of which must always be scheduled)
– 8 young people from the Vecoli community, with 2 educators, for 5 meetings
– About twenty decision-makers, stakeholders, and people who participated in the 2 demonstration meetings
For info on SMURF Project, https://www.smurfproject.eu/