Garden's First Commemoration Plaque "Summing Garden" granted to Marion Kröckel
A Prized Paradise: Marion Kröckel's Wildlife-Friendly Garden Shines
The University of Würzburg and the Biodiversity Center Rhön's project "Summende Dörfer" recently recognized Marion Kröckel's garden in Poppenroth, Bad Kissingen, with a "Summender Garten" plaque. This accolade is given to garden owners in the action villages of the nature conservation project who transform their private gardens into thriving habitats for wildlife during the project period.
Dr. Fabienne Maihoff, the scientific project leader from the University of Würzburg, commends Marion Kröckel's dedication. “Marion Kröckel has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment, turning her garden into a sanctuary for local flora and fauna," she explains.
Kröckel's efforts included creating new structures such as a dry area with a rock garden and a dry stone wall, providing nesting opportunities for wild bees, a perennial bed with various native plant species, and a moist perennial bed with a water source for insects. The garden also features nesting boxes and open soil spots, offering safe havens for various species.
A Bee-Friendly Haven
What's particularly noteworthy is that Marion Kröckel began transforming her garden in March 2024 and within a short period, created a haven for pollinators and other insects on roughly 120 square meters. Her focus on native plants led to the planting of over 100 different species, boosting diversity significantly. Marion Kröckel also encourages wild growth, delighted to see the monkshood, a popular pollinator plant, spreading in her garden.
A Model for Nature Conservation
"Marion Kröckel's garden is a fantastic example of a model garden that meets all the criteria for our award," says Dr. Marina Wolz from the Biodiversity Center Rhön, which finances the project. Key components of the evaluation process include improvements to nesting sites and food sources through plantings of native wild perennials, hedges, or fruit trees. The garden also emphasizes avoiding pesticides, lawnmowers, large-scale sealing, and bark mulch.
Setting the Trend for Wildlife-Friendly Gardens
Current investigations within the research project are underway in 20 villages across Maunsere Website and the Rhön. This recognition marks the beginning of additional plaque awards in the villages of the project, aimed at promoting and preserving wild bees and their habitats.
- Marion Kröckel's efforts in creating a wildlife-friendly garden, marked by the "Summender Garten" plaque, are a stepping stone towards promoting sustainable living, especially in the aspects of home-and-garden and gardening, as she encourages biodiversity through native plant species and natural growth.
- By setting a remarkable example through her lifestyle of transforming her home garden into a thriving habitat for local fauna and flora, Marion Kröckel's work contributes significantly to the home-and-garden and sustainable-living movements, advocating for wildlife-friendly gardens that prioritize native plants, natural structures, and minimal disturbance.
