We are happy to announce that the Nordea Foundation has granted 53.4 million DKK to The Nature Village, a nature education area at Doverodde Købmandsgård, in Thisted.

The project aims to transform this area into an activity-driven village with specially designed elements and outdoor activities, providing a place for education. It will serve as a platform for the numerous nature and outdoor associations in the area, as well as for nature, culture, and outdoor guides, allowing them to create communities in the beautiful surroundings of Thy.

"Doverodde is a truly special place, and with the Nature Village, we have a unique gathering place where people can come together to enjoy outdoor activities, nature, culture, and environmental education. Here, associations, locals, and visitors from all over the country will be able to be a part of several communities in beautiful, nature-rich surroundings. We believe this contributes to creating more fulfilling lives. At the Nordea Foundation, we are proud to be a part of turning these big ambitions into reality." - Christine Paludan-Müller, Head of Grants, the Nordea Foundation.

The funds are directed towards the establishment of the nature education area as well as the supporting activities during the first five years of operation.

"Fantastic news"

The plans for the new Nature Village have been in the making for quite some time, and in Thy, Mayor Niels Jørgen Pedersen has called the recent news “absolutely fantastic”. He has been a part of the team from the very beginning, an idea that came about seven years ago:

"I am very pleased for Thy. The project builds a bridge from the land to the fjord and nature, with the aim of bringing nature into the daily lives of more people in Thy. The Nature Village will enhance the quality of activities and increase awareness of the area's nature, creating new ways of interpretation—all for the benefit of its users. It's a new stepping stone in Thy, he says, referring to National Park Thy's stepping stone project, which, with Lodbjerg Lighthouse, Hanstholm Lighthouse, and the National Park Center in Vorupør, currently communicates the national park along the sea."

Specifically, The Nature Village is an establishment involving several facilities including a nature workshop, a kayak hotel, campfire huts, an association house, and equipment halls. All located close to the new extension of SMK in Thy. The former warehouse from 1854 has served as a part of the extension of the SMK, The National Gallery of Denmark since 2018.

The organisations are involved

In addition to the DKK 53.4 million from the Nordea Foundation, Lokale- og Anlægsfonden, responsible for the Cold Hawaii Inland project, has also contributed funds to the Nature Village project.

A.P. Møller Foundation has supported the new extension of SMK Thy Project. Furthermore Færch Foundation and The Crown Prince Frederik and the Crown Princess Mary Foundation have provided funds for the establishment of SMK Thy.

The Nature Village is expected to be completed for the grand opening of SMK Thy in June 2025.