News:
Project of the Month July 2026

A unique ‘field-and-meadow paradise’ for birdlife in Saxony!

Just a stone’s throw away from our foundation’s own nature reserve, ‘Schimmel's Ponds’, near Limbach-Oberfrohna, lies a natural oasis of the kind that has long since disappeared from many other places. The owner – whom we’ll call “Günter” for data protection reasons – has, over many years and through his own hard work, created a habitat there in which a diversity of bird, amphibian and insect species, long since vanished elsewhere, continues to thrive to this day.

The origins of his life’s work go back to Günter’s childhood. When he was six years old, he discovered an Icterine Warbler’s nest containing four speckled eggs in an old elderberry bush in his parents’ garden. The song of this little bird stayed with him ever since. But one day, the elderberry bush had vanished: his grandfather had chopped it up for firewood. The Icterine Warbler never came back.

This experience had a lasting impact on Günter. Later, he began planting wild shrubs, hedges and copses himself. Yet, during the GDR era, he was still firmly taught that every square metre of arable land had to be used exclusively for agricultural production. There was no place on arable land for Blackthorn, Hawthorn, wild roses, European Spindle or wild cherries.

After German reunification, Günter seized the opportunity to redesign parts of his parents’ land. He planted thousands of wild shrubs and trees, created flower-filled areas, and, in doing so, established valuable habitats for native birds and insects.

Today, this 7.3-hectare (73,000 m²) 'field-and-meadow paradise’ provides a habitat for nearly 60 bird species – including the Golden Oriole, Common Nightingale, Hawfinch, Tree Sparrow, Common Linnet, European Pied Flycatcher, Tree Pipit, Icterine Warbler, Green Woodpecker and Wryneck. Many of these species are now included on the Red Lists and the Early Warning List of endangered breeding birds in Germany and Saxony.

To ensure that this unique life’s work is preserved for the long term, Günter has decided, following frank discussions with our chairman, to sell his natural oasis to our Foundation Pro Biodiversity. It was not an easy decision for him to make. Still, he is determined to ensure that his 'field-and-meadow paradise’ continues to be managed sustainably and consistently protected in the future.

His confidence in our Foundation is based on his positive experiences with our nature reserves, ‘Hirschgrund’ near Oberlungwitz and ‘Schimmel's Ponds’ near Limbach-Oberfrohna.

Please help us with your donation so that we can pay the purchase price, including all associated costs, as stipulated in the contract, and ensure the long-term protection of this unique natural oasis.

With a donation of 15, 25 or 50 euros – or any other amount – you can help ensure the long-term protection of this richly structured habitat, home to a diversity of birdlife that has long since disappeared from many other places.

We offer you our heartfelt thanks for your support!