New habitats for more biodiversity - Benjes hedge and sandarium completed in Witzenhausen

Two projects to promote biodiversity on the Witzenhausen campus were completed in 2024: A Benjes hedge and a sandarium with a specially designed area for reptiles. The Benjes hedge provides valuable protection and nesting space for numerous insects, birds and small mammals. The sandarium creates important structures for wild bees, heat-loving insects, lizards and other reptile habitats that are increasingly being lost in our cultivated landscape.

In Witzenhausen, a measure was implemented on the Nordbahnhofstraße campus to improve the living conditions for the existing large trees. The Nordbahnhofstraße campus is characterized by large lawns with old individual trees. Old, large trees are also suffering from the effects of climate change and heat stress. To preserve them, seven trees at the Nordbahnhofstraße site were renovated and optimized using a compressed air injection process. This involved using purified compressed air to loosen the soil to a depth of 120 cm and injecting soil additives as air capacity builders, long-term water reservoirs and ion exchangers in the same operation. This improves the soil structure, promotes root activity and strengthens the health of the trees.

Several measures to unseal, green and ecologically enhance the open spaces on the south campus at Holländischer Platz were started in February 2026. Work on the first package of measures was successfully completed at the end of April:

• Around the Engineering Sciences 1 building, previous lawn areas were converted into more species-rich meadow areas. A total of around 1,500 m² was sown with flower mixtures such as "Bee Meadow" and "Wild Herb Magic" to promote biodiversity and create new habitats for insects.
• In front of the Institute of Music, a former gravel area was unsealed and transformed into a flowering area. To this end, around 35 cm of gravel was removed and replaced with a suitable gravel substrate, into which a mixture of perennials was then sown.
• A previously unvegetated wall on the central canteen building was planted with climbing plants and ground cover plants. The bed was given a steel edging and will contribute to the design and ecological enhancement of the area in future.
• In the diagonal, several tree grates were enlarged and protected against traffic. The extended areas were sown with a mixture of perennials. In addition, a segment of a round bench was installed above a tree slice at the eastern end, creating a new seating area in the open space.
• A measure was also implemented in Nora-Platiel-Straße: a previous paved area was unsealed, a tree was replanted and the extended area was planted with perennials.

In the process, 47 shrubs were planted, including monk's pepper, Malus tschonoskii and rock pear, and more than 20,000 perennials, flower bulbs and herbs such as oregano, mountain savory and sage were planted. These measures will reduce sealed surfaces, create new green structures and improve the quality of life on the campus.