Immersed in Urban Nature: An Immersive Walk Along Gdańsk?s Marinas as Part of the European Funds Open Day
Have you stopped lately — truly stopped — to feel the texture of a wet leaf? To touch the water? To pause beneath a chestnut tree, close your eyes, and listen to the sounds of birds and rain? Instead of complaining about the weather, have you ever thanked it simply for being?
In a world where everything moves fast, it’s becoming harder and harder to find a moment of true presence. The Immersive Walk, organized as part of the European Funds Open Days and the ECOMARINAS project, was an attempt to reclaim that presence within the urban landscape, where people, water, and nature meet. We invited the residents of Gdańsk to join us in a mindful journey through places we usually pass without a second thought. And although the rain accompanied us, it only added depth, authenticity, and a quiet calm to the experience..
From Concrete to Poplars: A Path that Teaches Mindfulness
Our journey began at the marina on Sienna Grobla — a place where industrial architecture meets the water, and modern infrastructure coexists with bird nests and wild greenery. From there, we made our way toward the central Gdańsk Marina on Szafarnia, reflecting on how a marina can become something more than just a harbor for boats. Could it also be a harbor for people, for their encounters, moments of wonder, and the awakening of ecological awareness?
We touched tree trunks, willow leaves, and the rough bark of poplars. We observed the wild birches sprouting from the roofs of abandoned buildings — the “fourth nature”¹ in its purest form. In silence and focus, we listened to our guide — Dr. Sylwia Stano (a cultural studies scholar, writer, field guide, and maritime skipper all in one) — who not only led us through the world of urban nature but also shared her deep love for it. This wasn’t a biology lesson. It was an experience of presence, a shared rhythm with the surroundings, a moment of pause.
Sylwia Stano reminded participants that "Sixty to ninety percent of our bodies is water. Leaves can be made almost entirely of water. We are ‘water bodies,’ and water is both our guide and connector."
Rain as a Blessing: From the Motława to Żabi Kruk
When we arrived at the Żabi Kruk Marina, we swapped our shoes for paddles and took to the water. Kayaking allowed us to see Gdańsk from a different perspective — from the river’s side. From the level of the Motława, the city becomes quieter, softer, as if mellowed by the water. Among the reeds, we were accompanied by the song of the reed warbler, though at times its voice was drowned out by the falling rain. Yet it was the rain that became the hero of the day — a reminder that water is life, and that we need it now more than ever. In an age of droughts and climate crisis, rain is not an obstacle, but a gift.
Together, we read poetry, talked, and sat in silence. Above all — we simply were. And immersed in this landscape, we became a part of it.
Water Bodies and Shared Responsibility
The Immersive Walk was not just an aesthetic experience. It was also a call to reflection. “We are all water bodies”, we reminded ourselves — interconnected and co-creating the planet’s water system. What we do to rivers, lakes, and the Baltic Sea, we do to ourselves. How we manage marinas and urban waterfront spaces affects the health of the entire ecosystem. That’s why projects like ECOMARINAS are so important.
About the ECOMARINAS Project
The ECOMARINAS project aims to raise ecological awareness, protect marine ecosystems, and implement sustainable practices in the management of marinas along the Southern Baltic. We want everyone — whether a tourist, sailor, Gdańsk resident, or visitor — to feel a shared responsibility for the state of the aquatic environment and understand that their everyday choices truly matter.
The walk was organized as part of the European Funds Open Days by the MARE Foundation in cooperation with the Gdańsk Sports Center, within the framework of the ECOMARINAS project, co-financed by the Interreg South Baltic 2021–2027 Programme by the European Regional Development Fund.
Following the motto of the Interreg South Baltic Programme: “United by the sea in action for a blue and green future – an innovative, sustainable, attractive, and active South Baltic”, the project promotes sustainable management and an ecologically conscious society living in harmony with the sea, as well as cross-border cooperation and knowledge exchange, engaging local authorities, marina operators, research institutions, and NGOs.
The project runs from July 2024 to June 2027. It is led by the Gdańsk Sports Center (PL) in cooperation with the Pomeranian Voivodeship (PL), the Municipality of Tolkmicko (PL), Klaipeda University (LT), Neringa District Administration (LT), Slottsholmen Marina Vestervik (SE), Coastal Union Germany (DE), and the MARE Foundation (PL).
We thank everyone who joined us — despite the weather, and indeed because of it. Thank you for your presence, your mindfulness, for sharing this time with us, and for wanting to experience the city differently. For those who couldn’t join, we are sharing REFLECTION CARDS from the walk.
Photos: Piotr Szafran
Facebook event: Link
Learn more about the project: ECOMARINAS
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1. The concept of "fourth nature“ was proposed by German scientist Prof. Ingo Kowarik and refers to wild vegetation that emerges spontaneously in degraded or abandoned areas. Unlike parks or gardens, this form of nature develops without any control or human intervention — often in neglected, forgotten, or even human-damaged sites. It is essential because it demonstrates nature’s capacity for regeneration and adaptation, creating new habitats for plants and animals and reminding us of the vitality of ecosystems, even in places where they might seem absent.
