2024-11-17 08:06:00
This year the Lower Austrian environmental movement “Nature in the Garden” is celebrating its 25th anniversary. “Nature in the Garden started a quarter of a century ago with the vision of establishing Lower Austria as a role model for ecological gardening. The great response to our campaigns in the anniversary year and the numerous congratulations confirm once again that ‘Nature in the Garden’ is now much more than an initiative – it is a community that sustainably promotes environmental, climate and species protection and provides impetus for ecological gardening Europe-wide,” says state governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner.
“Today we can proudly say: Lower Austria is the number 1 ecological gardening country in Europe,” says Mikl-Leitner, who would like to thank all supporters, partners, communities, hobby gardeners and gardening enthusiasts for their enthusiasm and commitment thanks. “Together we will continue to design our gardens and green spaces in harmony with nature and make a contribution to environmental, climate and species protection in Lower Austria and far beyond.”
The 25th anniversary was duly celebrated with numerous activities and together with the population: the big market tour “Nature in the Garden” led through all 20 districts of Lower Austria in the anniversary year. At weekly and farmers’ markets, gardening enthusiasts were able to talk to experts and organic gardener Karl Ploberger and find out more about gardening close to nature. The “Nature in the Garden” traveling exhibition also toured Lower Austria on the occasion of the anniversary year and gave an insight into the history and successes of “Nature in the Garden”. In the communities where the exhibition was hosted, it attracted numerous visitors and, thanks to interactive elements, was not only informative, but also an experience for the whole family.
Above all, the hedgehog, the heraldic animal of “Nature in the Garden”, played a special role in the anniversary year. Numerous campaigns and projects were dedicated to the protection and promotion of these useful animals – with information campaigns, a hedgehog Sunday, a school campaign and much more, “Nature in the Garden” drew attention to how important natural gardens are as a habitat for hedgehogs.
The idea of “Nature in the Garden” lives from the people who stand behind the movement – which is why the Lower Austrian environmental movement called for photos and videos with birthday greetings to be sent in its anniversary year. The numerous congratulations that then came from all over Lower Austria and beyond were a very special highlight in the anniversary year – can be seen at www.naturimgarten.at/25-jahre.
The movement was launched in 1999 with the basic idea of “gardening with nature”. 25 years later, the numbers speak for themselves: 86 percent of all Lower Austrian communities now work with “Nature in the Garden” – specifically, 495 of 573 communities are in the “Nature in the Garden” network. 90 percent of all Lower Austrians live in a community that works with “Nature in the Garden”.
More than 20,000 “Nature in the Garden” plaques in Lower Austria alone testify to climate and environmental protection on our own doorstep. There are also awards for ecologically maintained school and kindergarten gardens, company gardens, balconies and roof gardens, clinics and nursing homes as well as residential complexes.
The “Nature in the Garden” telephone as a central contact point for all kinds of gardening questions records around 40,000 contacts every year. Since it was founded in 1999, the garden telephone has received over 800,000 inquiries.
The free lectures, seminars and workshops, webinars, specialist conferences and more that “Nature in the Garden” has been offering for many years have been used by around 150,000 people in recent years. A network of over 170 partner companies from the areas of garden design, production and sales offers hobby gardeners everything their hearts desire. In almost 100 “Nature in the Garden” show gardens throughout Lower Austria, the core criteria of “Nature in the Garden” are also conscientiously implemented and insights into Lower Austrian garden paradises are provided.
“Nature in the Garden” also works with 24 partner organizations in seven countries – Austria, Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and South Tyrol – and is therefore a driving force for ecological gardening across Europe.
Impressions of all activities in the anniversary year: www.naturimgarten.at/fotogalerie
Further information is available from Natur im Garten, press spokeswoman Carina Pürer, MA, telephone 0676 848 790 737, email [email protected]
1731831080
#years #Austrian #environmental #movement #Nature #Garden
What impact has the “Nature in the Garden” initiative had on local biodiversity and community involvement over the past 25 years?
**Interview with State Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner on the 25th Anniversary of “Nature in the Garden”**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Governor Mikl-Leitner, to discuss the impressive milestone of “Nature in the Garden.” Can you tell us what this initiative means to Lower Austria and its residents?
**Mikl-Leitner:** Thank you for having me! “Nature in the Garden” has truly transformed how we think about gardening and our relationship with nature over the past 25 years. It started with a vision to establish Lower Austria as a role model for ecological gardening, and I can proudly say that it has grown into a vibrant community. It’s not just an initiative anymore; it represents our commitment to environmental, climate, and species protection across Europe.
**Editor:** It sounds like the community response has been overwhelmingly positive during this special anniversary year. Can you elaborate on some of the activities that have taken place to celebrate?
**Mikl-Leitner:** Absolutely! We organized the “Nature in the Garden” market tour, which spanned all 20 districts of Lower Austria. Gardening enthusiasts had the chance to engage with experts and learn from renowned organic gardener Karl Ploberger. Additionally, our traveling exhibition provided a fun and interactive experience for families to explore the history and successes of our initiative. Activities included a special focus on hedgehogs, which are our symbolic animals, highlighting their importance to natural gardens.
**Editor:** That’s wonderful to hear! Regarding the emphasis on hedgehogs, can you explain why they are significant to the initiative and how the community has engaged with projects focusing on them?
**Mikl-Leitner:** Hedgehogs play a vital role in our ecosystem, and we wanted to showcase their importance by raising awareness about creating natural habitats for them. Throughout the anniversary year, we held various campaigns, including a dedicated “Hedgehog Sunday” and educational programs in schools, all to promote the message of natural gardening as a haven for these creatures. The community really embraced these initiatives, which reinforced the idea that ecological gardening fosters biodiversity.
**Editor:** It’s heartening to see such engagement! As you mentioned, “Nature in the Garden” now connects with an impressive percentage of communities in Lower Austria. Looking ahead, what are your hopes for the next 25 years of this initiative?
**Mikl-Leitner:** My hope is that we continue to foster a culture of ecological responsibility and further inspire others across Europe. With 86 percent of our communities already participating, we’re on the right track. We aim to enhance support for local gardeners and expand our educational outreach, reinforcing the message that gardening can be a powerful tool for ecological health. Together, we will ensure that our gardens serve both us and the environment, creating a sustainable legacy for future generations.
**Editor:** Thank you, Governor Mikl-Leitner, for sharing these insights. It’s inspiring to hear about the positive impact of “Nature in the Garden” and the dedication of the community.
**Mikl-Leitner:** Thank you! It’s my pleasure, and I invite everyone to join us in celebrating and contributing to this beautiful movement.
