Tipps für deinen Garten und kommende Veranstaltungen
European Award for Ecological Gardening 2021
Winners selected in 3 categories – Ökogarten Mödling is the best Lower Austrian project
The victory in the category “Promotion of Biodiversity in Gardens and Green Spaces“ went to South Tyrol – the Castle of Trautmannsdorff near Merano, for the project “Diversity – The importance of biological diversity for humanity, animals and plants“. As a winning project in the category “Climate-fit Gardens, Green Areas and Building Greenings“, “The Malzfabrik Nature Park“ from Berlin was selected for the Award. In the category “Gardens for Health, Care and Therapy“, the Belgian project “Green instead of grey“ from Leuven was awarded with the European Award for Ecological Gardening 2021.
The Ecological Garden in Mödling run by the Association “Arge Chance“ was the most important project submitted from Lower Austria. In accordance with the motto, “Promoting people – caring for plants“, a total of 25 persons were working in a social employment project. This project aims to promote near-natural gardening as a path back into community as well as into gainful employment.
“Natur im Garten“, represented by the Federal Province of Lower Austria and the “European Garden Association - Natur im Garten International“, awarded the “European Award for Ecological Gardening“ as a recognition of innovative and outstanding ecological achievements in the field of horticulture, which have already been implemented. The prize award ceremony was embedded in a diverse framework programme, the objective of which was the exchange and discussion of international trends, campaigns and visions on the topic of gardens.
In 2021, projects could be submitted under the following 3 categories:
Biodiversity means diversity – diversity of different living spaces, diversity of animal and plant species, mushrooms and microorganisms. At the same time, diverse structures also play an important role when it comes to near-natural design and careful soil and environmental management through ecological care – because ultimately, nature and species protection starts right at our front door.
The projects that can be submitted and have already been implemented have the potential to generate quite colourful mixtures: Consequently, renaturated industrial areas, school grounds, city parks, public green areas, free spaces in company and residential buildings, as well as many other projects can be submitted. In these projects, the promotion of biological diversity is requirement.
Prizes will be awarded to appealing, inspiring and ecologically valuable projects in public, semi-public or private green areas, which – irrespective of their size – create a real added value for humans and the environment and contribute to increasing biodiversity.
Climate change presents new challenges for us. More and more intelligent ways are needed to adapt our gardens and green spaces to climate change. For this reason, we are looking for already implemented projects that create an added value for residents and the environment alike inside settlements. During the assessment process, particular attention will be given to a location-appropriate selection of plants, the intelligent use of rainwater, the improvement of the microclimate, as well as climate-fit gardening. At the same time, the focus will also be laid on the existence of a nursing concept for the sustainability of the given project.
Prizes will be awarded to ecologically valuable projects in public, semi-public or private green areas and building greenings, which – irrespective of their size – can be used for multiple purposes and also integrate the region or their surroundings, such as the origin of materials used (natural stone, wood, etc.). Also aspects of fair environmental conditions, climate protection, as well as the generation and use of energy are intended to reflect the projects in an innovative way.
Gardens and green spaces mean freedom, adventure, recreation and livelihood. Consequently, it is no accident that gardens and green spaces are also increasingly being used in hospitals, rehabilitation and addiction treatment centres, facilities for people with disabilities and residential homes for senior citizens, as well as in schools and kindergartens as a health-promoting or therapeutic tool. This way of extending the living space and spectrum of perception not only contributes to a better quality of life for its users but also offers health-care staff new possibilities in their professional environment. As a result, gardens for health, care and therapy also create a new form of togetherness.
In this category, gardens and green areas belonging to hospitals, residential homes for senior citizens, therapeutic institutions, as well as garden-therapeutic education and similar institutions can be submitted, which additionally promote the health and well-being inside the green areas connected to them. Criteria also include an exemplary quality of stay and care, as well as the involvement of gardens in therapeutic concepts.
Prizes will be awarded to ecologically valuable projects, which have already been implemented in public, semi-public or private green areas, irrespective of their size. Furthermore, these projects can be used for multiple purposes and integrate the region or their surroundings, such as the origin of the materials used (natural stone, wood, etc.).
And the winning projects of the European Award for Ecological Gardening 2021 are...
Category 1: Promoting biodiversity in gardens and green areas
In this project, the sharing of knowledge in the field of horticulture and ecology, as well as the garden show´s art installation and obstacle course show of how important biodiversity is.
Submitter: Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff, Anna Maria Pircher'
Website: www.trauttmansdorff.it
Year of project implementation: 2020
Land: IT
Fotocredit: Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff/Roter Rucksack; Die Gärten von Schloss Trauttmansdorff/Karlheinz Sollbauer
In this project, the focus lies on strengthening both biodiversity and the improvement of the quality of housing and life for people living in residential quarters.
Submitter: Wissenschaftsladen Bonn e. V. (WILA), Michaela Shields
Website: https://wilabonn.de/
Year of project implementation: 2018-2019
Land: DE
Fotocredit: © Wissenschaftsladen Bonn e. V. (WILA Bonn)
The Berlin Building Cooperative breathes new life into green space care on various layers by using structures and demolition material.
Submitter: Beamten-Wohnungs-Verein zu Köpenick eG, Andrea Zwingelberg
Website: https://www.bwv-zk.de/bwv.html
Year of project implementation: 2020
Land: DE
Fotocredit: Stiftung für Mensch und Umwelt
With species-rich habitats, among others, a diversified local recreation area and place for encounters plus a company head office in the urban area have been set up on a strongly sealed former military site.
Submitter: Alnatura Produktions- und Handels GmbH, Laura Hauck
Website: www.alnatura.de/de-de/ueber-uns/alnatura-campus/
Year of project implementation: 2019
Land: DE
Fotocredit: Anke Pavlicek
Category 2: Climate-friendly gardens, green areas and greening of buildings
This urban oasis serves as an ecological maximisation of a revitalised industrial monument for employees, tenants and visitors alike, as well as for diversity.
Submitter: IGG Malzfabrik mbH, Karoline vom Böckel
Website: www.malzfabrik.de
Year of project implementation: 2016/2017
Land: DE
Fotocredits: Matthias Friel, Nils Krüger
This garden and meeting place on historical grounds fulfil their function over the whole year and are based on permaculture, biodiversity and collective management, while being also self-sufficient to the maximum possible extent.
Submitter: Community garden "A hoe and the Sun" led by the Commons Lab Foundation, Anna Fedas
Website: https://www.facebook.com/motykaislonce
Year of project implementation: 2015
Land: PL
Fotocredit: Maciej Łepkowski, Małgorzata Piechura
Category 3: Gardens for health, care and therapy
This robust model prison garden offers inmates serving life sentences as well as people suffering from mental disabilities a view of greenery, an experience of nature, cooling or activity during maintenance work.
Submitter: Centrale Gevangenis van Leuven, Myriam Coucke
Website: https://justitie.belgium.be/
Year of project implementation: 2018 - 2019
Land: BE
Fotocredit: © Myriam Coucke
The interplay with nature takes place in the therapeutic natural garden and by the river, being reflected in a large number of elements, such as a balance board, an insect flower meadow, raised beds and many more.
Submitter: Lipka – školské zařízení pro environmentální vzdělávání Brno, příspěvková organizace, Veronika Neckařová
Website: www.lipka.cz
Year of project implemention: 2017, opening 2019
Land: CZ
Fotocredit: (C) Lipka
Special award Lower Austria
An occupational project for personality stabilisation as well as for the jump into social community and gainful employment, as well as for new courage for life and perspectives.
Submitter: Verein Arge Chance, Günther Rieck
Website: www.argechance.at
Year of project implementation: 2007
Land: AT
Fotocredit: © Arge Chance, Citronenrot
in cooperation with
Neues aus dem Garten
Grünraum für Spezialisten
Wissenswertes für Ihre Gemeinde und die Gartenbranche
Gartenpädagogik
Alles rund ums Lernen für pädagogisch Interessierte