Dresden is blooming: New meadows for insect diversity in the old town!

Dresden is blooming: New meadows for insect diversity in the old town!

In Dresden it is now blooming in two new places, and it is a real benefit for biodiversity! SachsenEnergie has worked diligently to promote insects and plants and created two flowering meadows in the city. The first area is in Altnaußlitz, where there was previously a traffic island, and the second is in the old town on a former company property on Pöppelmannstrasse. A total of 1,200 square meters have been transformed into dazzling flowering meadows, and that's just the beginning.

The new areas not only have greater aesthetic appeal, but also turn the wheel of nature. Insects such as wild bees and beetles, which are so important for the ecosystem, find a new habitat here. They help preserve wild plants and are themselves food for birds. Biodiversity is often higher in urban areas than in rural areas, but its natural development is inhibited by asphalted roads and sealed areas. This makes it all the more important to create green oases like this, because nature is a sensitive organism.

The history of the meadows

A good hundred years ago, meadows were usually mown by farmers for hay twice a year. This tradition created species-rich meadows that provided a habitat for numerous butterflies, wild bees and grasshoppers. Up to 70 species of herbs and grasses could thrive in such meadows. But modern agriculture and climate change have taken a toll on many of these habitats, and biodiversity is at risk.

In Baden-Württemberg, for example, there are still remnants of such traditional hayfields, which are now part of the European Natura 2000 protected area system. Attempts are being made there to preserve biodiversity through advice and exchange among farmers. In Dresden, too, SachsenEnergie's initiative is helping to bring the species-rich hay meadows, which once characterized our image of the landscape, back into the foreground.

The look ahead

SachsenEnergie already has a new flowering meadow planned for 2026 in Dresden Neustadt. In collaboration with the 148th primary school, students should look after the meadow and thus experience a piece of nature up close. A great project that not only promotes nature, but also sensitizes young people to the topic.

All in all, SachsenEnergie's initiative shows that it's not just about preserving habitats for insects. It is also a call to all of us to appreciate and protect nature. The flowering meadows in Dresden are a step in the right direction and a sign that something is happening in the fight for a species-rich environment.

If you would like to find out more about the projects in the region, you can find out more here: MeiDresden and BUND Baden-Württemberg.