Nature trail stations

Design Guide for Barefoot Parks

Nature Trail Stations

	Foot sensation can encourage interest in various subjects -- some examples are shown here.	enlargeable thumbnails:
The foot as a measuring unit	Since early times, the foot has been used for measuring length. This was, however, poorly standardized. To compare the regional differences, visitors can measure their feet on a foot rule showing the different dimensions. Chinese foot 35,8 cm (14 in) Palatine foot 33,3 cm (13 in) Parisian foot 32,5 cm (12 ¾ in) Prussian foot 31,4 cm (12 3/8 in) English foot 30,5 cm (12 in) Foot in Saxony 28,3 cm (11 1/8 in) Foot in Hesse-Darmstadt 25.0 cm (9 7/8 in) Roman foot (lat. pes) 29,6 cm (11 5/8 in) Early foot 27,6 cm (10 7/8 in)
From clay to brick	This station shows the traditional way to produce bricks from clay.
Geology trail	Geology need not be learned as a dry subject but can be experienced with the senses. While the feet are feeling different kinds of rock textures, the geological history of earth is explained on instructive boards.
Animal traces	In 2006, Bruno was the first brown bear to visit southern Germany after a bearless span of 170 years. Eventually a nervous Minister for Environment and Health ordered his shooting. Shortly before opening the Barefoot hiking trail at Mittenwald, Bruno left his traces close to this location (and fed on some sheep). Therefore a barefoot trail station was dedicated to him. The ways he tramped around were depicted on a board and his footprints were replicated as stepping stones. In comparison, stout male feet appear quite graceful!
Fakes and jokes	Authors of medieval travel reports tended to invent fanciful stories about countries they never had visited. Thus it is not surprising that the extinct monopod, who used his one oversized foot as a sunshade, left his huge footprint in the area of the Barefoot Park Dannenwalde. Visitors can help dig it out.....

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