The Hochschule Niederrhein (HSNR) is setting an example for climate protection and sustainability: staff and students planted fruit trees and shrubs together at the Krefeld Süd and Mönchengladbach campuses. This sustainable design of the outdoor areas is another important component of the university's own sustainability strategy.
With this campaign, the university is not only making an active contribution to climate protection by absorbing carbon dioxide, but is also promoting biodiversity and creating sustainable food sources: The university community will be able to help itself to the ripe fruit in future.
"The positive energy and sense of community that could be felt at both locations made this campaign a special event," says Vivian Dörr, Climate Protection Manager at HSNR. In Mönchengladbach, staff and students planted a total of five fruit trees - including apple, mirabelle, cherry and plum trees - and eight berry bushes in the courtyard in front of the canteen. At Krefeld South Campus, six trees, including apple, plum, walnut, hazelnut and cherry trees, were planted in an area previously prepared in front of the H building. The planting was professionally supervised by Reiner Gaspers and his team from Gartengestaltung Bündgen GmbH.
Both planting campaigns were made possible by cooperation partners from the city councils and local initiatives, who provided both financial support and expertise. In Mönchengladbach, the trees and shrubs were financed by the city of Mönchengladbach together with the nature conservation station Haus Wildenrath e.V. as part of the LVR funding project "Bäume und Raine - Leben in der Landschaft".
In Krefeld, the city of Krefeld supported the project financially and provided three of the six fruit trees. The "Edible Krefeld" project, which takes care of public green spaces, was also involved in the campaign. "These fruit trees are a strong sign of what is possible through cooperation. By planting them, we are not only creating new habitats, but also raising awareness for an edible and sustainable city," says Katrin Blewaska from the "Edible Krefeld" initiative.
