On Friday, 22 May, Katharina Heberer presented the "ArtenGarten" in Schwerte to our bachelor course “Gardens as socio-ecological spaces.” She first explained which negative examples exist in garden design, such as rhododendron and butterfly bush, which are visually attractive but offer little value for biodiversity.

She then showed us on site the positive examples: colourful, species-rich plants such as mullein and field scabious, which provide important food sources for pollinators. She also highlighted sandy areas as key habitats for insects, as they are essential nesting sites for many wild bee species.

Overall, the species garden in Schwerte is still relatively new but already shows high biodiversity and clearly demonstrates the importance of structurally diverse, near-natural garden design.