News:
Project of the Month September

We are creating new blossoming landscapes for biodiversity in Western Saxony ...

Western Saxony has historically been one of Germany's most intensively farmed and densely populated regions.

To the amazement of many initially sceptical citizens, the nearly 24 hectares (240,000 m²) of grassland and forest areas we purchased in 2022 in Hirschgrund near Oberlungwitz (Western Saxony) have developed into an inspired nature conservation and species protection success story.

What we have already achieved in the charming Hirschgrund-Wiesenbach Valley for the diversity of flora and fauna, and for people seeking relaxation, is already unrivalled far beyond Saxony: kilometres of newly planted flowering and berry-bearing field hedges, newly planted drought-tolerant Common Whitebeam and wild Service Tree, and, to top it all off, the conversion of 3 hectares of formerly intensively used farmland into a species-rich wildflower meadow. At the time, this was intended as a trial area for flowering meadows, but now, just three years after sowing, it is one of the most species-rich biotope areas in Hirschgrund.

Anyone walking along the central Hirschgrund hiking trail today with their eyes open, through the Hirschgrund stream valley grazed by a small herd of free-roaming Scottish Highland cattle, will discover a variety of large and small species of our native wildlife on both sides of the trail, because the dining table is once again richly laid for them all.

Unfortunately, however, the pressure on the still open agricultural countryside is increasing dramatically – and this development does not stop at Western Saxony!

Not only are new energy transition and energy expansion acceleration laws and regulations, supported by almost all political parties and environmental associations, driving land purchase prices to unprecedented heights, but there are also plans for a new wind farm in the immediate vicinity of our Hirschgrund property, which threatens to enclose our 32-hectare (320,000 m²) Hirschgrund nature reserve with its intimidating effect on wildlife, shadow casting, droning noise and bird mortality. The only way to counter these threatening negative influences is to make bold new land purchases, which we have already been able to initiate with a first new purchase agreement.

To ensure that the endangered wild bee, butterfly and bird populations, as well as the people of Western Saxony, will soon have something to celebrate, we were able to have more than 3.5 hundredweight of certified regional wildflower meadow seed sown at our expense on 6 hectares (60,000 m²) of purchased land at our own expense, after thorough soil preparation. Next year, Western Saxony's largest and most species-rich wildflower meadow will bloom there!

With our fourth land purchase in Hirschgrund near Oberlungwitz, our biodiversity conservation area has grown to an impressive total area of 46.8 hectares (468,000 square metres). The purchase price for the new 14.8 hectares (148,000 m²) of land in Hirschgrund, including three fishponds and three spring wells, amounts to just under €310,000, including ancillary purchase costs. We can use €196,000 from testamentary dispositions for this purpose!

Please help us now with your generous project donation so we can secure the remaining amount of €114,000 by the end of October.
In these turbulent times, every euro donated helps us immensely!

The conservation of our wonderful natural environment and its fascinating biodiversity is in all our hands.