Insect-friendly perennial bed

The green space in front of the Central Library of the SUB Göttingen is popular among students and staff who enjoy spending time in the shade of the trees in good weather. In May 2024, this area was ecologically enhanced: a new perennial bed now serves as a valuable food source for wild bees and many other insect species with its blooming, perennial plants.

On about 50 square meters, over 400 drought-tolerant wild perennials from Central and Southern Europe were planted. These plants were cultivated and donated to the project by Dr. Michael Schwerdtfeger, the curator of the Old Botanical Garden. The Old Botanical Garden is an absolute hotspot for wild bees in Germany, with 140 of the 600 native bee species present. The following plants were chosen because they are particularly insect-friendly and most are "climate shrubs" that do not require watering even during extreme summers after establishment:

• Small Scabious (Scabiosa columbaria)
• Cream Scabious (Scabiosa ochroleuca)
• Greater Knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa)
• Brownray Knapweed (Centaurea jacea)
• Betony (Betonica officinalis)
• Flat Sea Holly (Eryngium planum)
• Large Speedwell (Veronica teucrium)
• Field Scabious (Knautia arvensis)
• Common Verbena (Verbena bonariensis)
• Black Mullein (Verbascum nigrum)
• Woodland Sage (Salvia nemorosa)
• Golden Marguerite (Anthemis tinctoria)
• Fernleaf Yarrow (Achillea filipendulina)
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare)
• Dwarf Catnip (Nepeta racemosa)

To prevent the spread of other wild herbs in the bed, the area was dug out to a depth of 30 cm before planting and filled with seed-free planting substrate. A bed border prevents the lateral intrusion of grass roots. The area was excavated to a depth of 30 cm and filled with a special perennial substrate to prevent the spread of other wild herbs and to create optimal conditions for the plants to thrive.

During the planning, valuable advice on the design, species composition, and maintenance of the bed was provided by the student Jasper David Rasokat. He was awarded for his concept "Ökologische Aufwertung am Zentralcampus" as part of the 2022 Ideas Competition for students and actively contributed his experience to the implementation.

The SUB Sustainability Working Group initiated and coordinated the project. The successful implementation was also ensured in close collaboration with the Green Office, the Building Management of the University, Alumni Göttingen e.V., and the House Services and Logistics department of the SUB Göttingen. Spontaneous helpers actively supported the planting on site.

The city of Göttingen and the Universitätsbund Göttingen e. V. funded the project.

The perennial bed project is another building block in the implementation of the university's sustainability strategy and is designed to be sustainable, in addition to its ecological and aesthetic impact. It combines the ideas and expertise of staff and students, pooling direct engagement for sustainability within the workplace and study environment. This way, university institutions and students are coming closer together, and the Göttingen Seed Library is already looking forward to the seeds from the perennials.

The SUB Sustainability Working Group warmly invites everyone interested to visit and observe the plants and their soon-to-arrive winged pollinators, and to use the insect meadow as inspiration for their own garden or balcony.