Over 40,000 fruit trees grow in Wiesbaden. Many orchards are no longer maintained and have fallen into disrepair. 2012 Naturefund started the orchard initiative to change this. Now we want to by 5,000 m² for new old apple trees.
Over 40,000 fruit trees
Over 40,000 fruit trees grow in and around Wiesbaden. Many orchards are no longer maintained and have fallen into disrepair. The old fruit trees are gradually dying and with them go some well-adapted, domestic fruit types. At the same time, a valuable habitat will be lost for wild bees threatened with extinction, rare butterflies and many other species native to us. Together with Streuobstkreis Wiesbaden (the Wiesbaden orchard group) and many others, in 2012 Naturefund started the orchard initiative to change all of this. Since then, particularly in autumn and spring, we have been organising regular orchard events attended by many people that come to lend a helping hand in order to conserve orchards and old fruit trees. This autumn 2014, we intend to purchase 5,000 m² and thereby extend a species garden. Streuobstkreis Wiesbaden e.V. set up an orchard with various species in Wiesbaden-Medenbach in 2005. It has over 160 fruit trees, including numerous rare apple and pear types. This species garden was included in the nation-wide programme to conserve species diversity. Unfortunately there is no more room for new plantings. But now we can purchase an adjacent area and will therefore have enough space to plant seedlings from old species. Get involved!
Location
Wiesbaden and vicinity. The species garden that we would like to purchase is located in Wiesbaden-Medenbach;
Size
Current: 5,000 m²
Fauna
Wild bee types, rare butterflies, little owls, European green woodpeckers
Flora
Rare tall-stemmed fruit trees, such as the Gold Parmaene apple, the Rheinischer Winterrambur apple, the Finkenwerder Herbstprinz apple, the Gravensteiner apple, the Rote Steinrenette apple and many more;
Special feature
Wiesbaden, the state capital of Hesse, is home to a good 40,000 fruit trees, including which should most likely be the oldest service trees in Europe, an estimated 190 years old. Orchards with old standard fruit trees provide a lot of enjoyment but also require a lot of care. Many owners can no longer put in the required work or are now too old. The orchards and the valuable, old standard fruit trees start to decay. But many of these species developed over hundreds of years, proved their mettle and provide an important source of genes for the future. Naturefund wants to conserve these valuable biotopes at our doorstep. Protect land directly for our environment
