120 years of the allotment garden Am Forst: a festival of relaxation and nature!

120 years of the allotment garden Am Forst: a festival of relaxation and nature!

The allotment garden “Am Forst” in Cologne celebrates a very special anniversary: ​​120 years of uninterrupted history. As reported [jenatv.de] (https://www.jenatv.de/mediathek/80345/120_ years_kleingartenanlage_AM_Forst_feier_jubilaeum.html), the complex was founded over a century ago to offer people a green oasis from the hustle and bustle of the city center. In order to celebrate this gratifying event properly, the responsible association invites you to a big party next weekend, which will certainly attract many Cologne teams.

small gardens are not only a retreat, they have also changed enormously over the years. Originally designed for self -sufficiency and relaxation, they are now in high demand, especially in urban areas where living space is scarce. A master thesis at the University of Stuttgart addresses the transformation of such systems and emphasizes that allotments play an important role in the context of urbanization and lack of living space. They not only offer relaxation rooms, but also meet the need for ecological sustainability and social justice. si.uni-stuttgart.de shows how allotment gardens act as cultural relics and social encounters with great social value.

a green oasis in the urban jungle

Allotment gardens make a valuable contribution to biodiversity and improve the urban microclimate. According to the BBSR, there are around 910,000 tenants in around 14,000 clubs in Germany, which together manage around 44,000 hectares of allotment area. Almost 95 percent of the 960,000 allotments are actively managed. Nevertheless, the stock has shrunk by around 25,000 gardens since 2011. This is often more likely to be attributed to a lack of demand, because demand in large cities is growing steadily, while rural regions are more difficult. bbsr.bund.de notes that younger households in particular are increasingly interested in allotments and increase the shared use of plots.

The challenges are not low: the organization of the allotment garden is often in the hands of volunteers, which does not always make the work of the board members easy. In addition, the integration of allotment gardens into modern urban development concepts is necessary to ensure their existence. Innovative approaches to the use of allotment gardens, such as the creation of community spaces and the implementation of sustainable usage concepts, are in the foreground of future developments.

The anniversary of the allotment garden "Am Forst" reminds of the importance of this green retreat. They are not only local recreation areas, but also an important part of the urban infrastructure. If you have the opportunity this weekend, you should not miss the festival and treat yourself to a piece of this living garden culture in Cologne.