In 2001, a working group made up of Mainz citizens was founded with the aim of promoting natural greenery in the city area. The natural display garden was planned and created in the following years in order to make the diversity and beauty of the local wild plants tangible and tangible. This was important to the initiators, because no flyer can describe the scent of a cinnamon rose or the velvety leaves of the black mullein in such a way that it could replace your own experience of nature.
Three hills, dry stone walls, curved water-bound (= permeable) paths, a pond with a belly run and a wild bee hotel were created on approximately 1,500 square meters. Countless species of wild plants were planted: native shrubs of all sizes, wild roses, fruit trees, medicinal plants, scented plants, late-flowering perennials, etc. Where exactly what was planted can be found in a list with a map on the Nature Show Garden website.
The aim of the project is to infect visitors with enthusiasm for local nature and to encourage sustainable change in their own garden areas and urban green spaces. It shows how you can do something for the diversity of animals, plants and ecosystems using simple means. The website also contains numerous animal and plant portraits as well as tips for gardening close to nature.
The show garden is a species protection project of the “Natural Green Working Group”, which is part of the “Local Agenda 21”. Agenda 21 is a program of action for the 21st century, which aims to satisfy the needs of the present without restricting those of future generations. The program was signed by over 170 countries at the World Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. Every municipality worldwide should draw up its own local action program for sustainable development.
In Mainz, concrete measures and strategies for a sustainable city are being developed in an open dialogue between the city administration, politics, the population, local organizations and business. And this has been going on since 1997, so for over 25 years. What has happened so far seems clear. But if you want to get involved here or in one of the other working groups, you can find out more on the Internet, simply search for “Agenda21 Mainz”. The agenda work is coordinated by the Office for Urban Development.