Environment, nature and climate

Flower meadow on Gustav-Stresemann-Ring

The 5,000 square meter green space on Gustav-Stresemann-Ring has been transformed into a flower-rich meadow and now offers many plants and animals a better habitat. Insects in particular, whose food supply has been declining for decades, have found a substitute habitat here in the middle of the city.

Just a few months after the redesign, the meadow on Gustav-Stresemann-Ring, between Wittelsbacherstraße and Wettinerstraße, was covered in a carpet of meadow daisies and blue cornflowers. In the second year, the red poppy, mallow, meadow widow flower and many other native flowers and grasses were also visible along the busy road. And with each new growing season, the range of plant and animal species continues to develop.

The Parks Department has mowed paths into the meadow, inviting visitors to stroll through the rich sea of flowers. This means that there are always opportunities for exciting discoveries. In the meantime, for example, the rattle pot has spread in some places - even though it was not included in the seed that was sown. In spring and summer, bees, bumblebees and other insects are buzzing and humming, happy to take advantage of the abundant supply of nectar.

At the same time, swifts repeatedly swoop high above the meadow, having discovered the soaring insects as an important source of food for themselves and their brood. Blackcaps, robins and goldfinches also take advantage of the diverse food supply in the middle of the city.

Compared to lawns, mowing only takes place twice a year. A first mowing gives the late-blooming flowers a break and allows the meadow to bloom a second time. In order to leave areas of retreat for the animals living in the meadow, alternating areas are spared from mowing.

What other benefits does the project have for biodiversity?

The areas were redesigned and extensified in a pilot project. The measures were carried out jointly by the Parks Department and the Environmental Agency. Over the years, many more areas along the roadside and in less intensively used green spaces are to follow. Wiesbaden has been a member of "Kommunen für biologische Vielfalt e.V." since 2018, which is committed to a species-rich and diverse urban green space. The flower meadows on Gustav-Stresemann-Ring are a contribution by the state capital of Wiesbaden to promoting biodiversity and species diversity.

How can I become active myself?

The Environmental Agency would also like to use the project to promote the "Blooming landscapes and habitats in Wiesbaden" funding program. Private property owners and companies can get an impression of how biodiversity can be boosted through more extensive maintenance.

The city is setting a good example with projects like this and hopes that many will follow suit. Interested citizens and companies can apply for funding from the Environmental Agency.