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Campus der Universität Bielefeld — © Universität Bielefeld

Demonstration garden

Revival of the demonstration garden

There is a demonstration garden between the greenhouses and Konsequenz Street. This was badly neglected in February 2024. The garden was originally designed as a demonstration garden. At the request of the Faculty of Biology, the demonstration garden will be re-established. The demonstration garden is now being replanted and will provide an insight into the diversity of different plant families from summer 2025.

This will be an ideal opportunity to present the topics of sustainability, local plant and species diversity to the public and at the same time inform the public about the university's many successful research activities, especially in group initiatives. Revitalising the garden as an inclusive demonstration garden would greatly enhance the area, with the following benefits:

Contribution to the concept of sustainability through the integration of useful plants and herbs and explanation of how to grow them yourself
Presentation of local species diversity and biodiversity, sensitisation for species protection
Information about successful group initiatives (currently research group FOR 3000, SFB-CRC 212) at Bielefeld University by integrating the plants used, linking to existing websites
To ensure that there is plenty of greenery to be seen in summer, some preparations have to be made now in winter. The following pictures document the first steps in replanting the demonstration garden.

Current developments in the demonstration garden

Preparation and Planning

the choosing of seeds — List of chosen seeds © Greetje Stockhecke & Jule Braha

Preparation and planning
Selection of seeds
List of selected seeds
First of all, an overview had to be created of which plant species are currently available in the tubs, which are to be added for the various teaching courses, for example, and which species are suitable for the demonstration garden in terms of their requirements.

Criteria were developed for the selection of plant species based on their specific use.

The criteria for the selection are:

Culinary and medicinal herbs as well as useful plants to represent sustainability
Broad coverage of the diversity of local species while utilising perennial, competitive, herbaceous land plants to demonstrate biodiversity
Plants from third-party funded group initiatives such as Tanacetum vulgare, Solanum dulcamara, various cabbage plants
Beautiful flowering form and colour as well as a mixture of early and late bloomers to increase attractiveness
The procurement of seeds, planting bulbs or even pre-grown plants for the missing species was then planned.

In addition, a current poster on the family tree of the plants is to be displayed in the existing showcase. The species in the demonstration garden will be arranged according to the systematics.
In the neighbouring research greenhouses, the windows will be fitted with laminated explanations about the plants being researched, including QR codes to link to the websites of the relevant working groups (already done in some cases).

Seeds

Isatis tinctoria, also known as woad, was historically used as a dye plant and is still partly used as such today. © Greetje Stockhecke & Jule Braha

In some cases, it was possible to use seeds still available from the nursery. Further seeds were ordered.

First sowing

In collaboration with the university's gardeners, the first young plants were grown from seed in the greenhouses. The different sowing times and conditions of the various species must be taken into account.