Germany
Candidate – Germany
Submission by: Märkische Scholle Wohnungsunternehmen eG
Project name: Natural PikoParks, small but mighty
Link: https://stiftung-mensch-umwelt.de/
Short description
Three innovative ‘PikoParks’ created by Berlin-based housing association Märkische Scholle Wohnungsunternehmen eG are transforming previously monotonous ‘spacing greenery’ into species-rich, climate-resilient oases of blossoms with enhanced amenity value. Covering just 300 to 400 m², the nature garden specialists at the Foundation for People and the Environment designed these mini(N)ature parks on our behalf, without any subsidies. This innovative type of green space features native wild plants, deadwood, sand lenses, stone piles, dry stone walls, beetle cellars, lizard castles, nesting aids for wild bees and bird baths. Habitats for insects, birds, hedgehogs and many other species. Seating areas, small paths and information boards invite the neighbourhood to relax, meet and experience nature.
The natural maintenance is carried out 2-4 times a year. We are convincing because our housing construction company has been ‘pushing through’ the new path towards greater biodiversity, coupled with participatory elements and environmental education for tenants, since 2022. One PikoPark is added each year, initially three within an existing residential neighbourhood, now followed by the fourth PikoPark in another district. Scaling up can contribute to the vision of green, liveable cities in Europe.
a) Social Cohesion
PikoParks create meeting places in the heart of urban residential areas. Residents are involved in the planning and planting stages, which fosters a sense of community and responsibility. Joint activities – from planting days to guided tours – promote dialogue between generations and cultures. Seating areas and paths invite people to engage in conversation. This creates low-threshold meeting places that make neighbourhoods more vibrant and connected.
b) Biodiversity
Native wildflowers, trees and shrubs, as well as structures such as deadwood, sand lenses and dry stone walls, create valuable microhabitats. After just a short time, significantly more wild bee species were found in the PikoParks than before – proof of their ecological effectiveness. In addition to insects, birds, reptiles and small mammals also benefit. In a very small space, the PikoParks thus contribute to the preservation of endangered biodiversity in the city and take concrete action to counteract insect decline. Watering places are cleaned and filled with water by local residents and serve as water dispensers for all animals, including insects.
c) Economic factors
Investing in a PikoPark is naturally more expensive than sowing grass seed, but in residential construction we had long been accustomed to investing very little in the (re)design of outdoor facilities. For decades, they were essentially maintained as they had been originally laid out. However, we are also coming to realise that we all have a responsibility towards the next generation and that the potential of our rather large outdoor areas could be better utilised for biodiversity and, at the same time, quality of life. Maintaining the three new PikoParks is cost-effective, as the natural planting with native, robust species requires little watering and minimal pruning; two to three maintenance visits per year are sufficient. Our new caretaker has just taken over the ongoing maintenance after training by the foundation. Housing companies benefit from more attractive outdoor facilities, which improve the quality of life of their tenants and counteract loneliness. The long-term increase in property value is more relevant for private housing companies than for us as a cooperative. However, this creates work for gardening and landscaping companies that focus on natural green spaces. We want to promote this too. Incidentally, natural climate protection (= promoting biodiversity) is cheaper than technical climate protection.
d) Climate
PikoParks make an important contribution to climate adaptation: biodiversity acts as ‘natural climate protection’ and, thanks to the varied vegetation, helps to reduce temperatures in summer compared to our previous grass lawn. The foliage creates a pleasant microclimate for people and animals, especially on hot summer days. The robust vegetation is drought-tolerant, which ensures future-proof use. The plants are able to absorb rainwater well. The water-permeable construction of the PikoParks, including the path surfaces, ensures that even large amounts of rainwater seep away quickly, relieving the burden on the public sewer system. When scaled up, these mini parks improve the urban climate and increase resilience to extreme weather events.
e) Wellbeing of visitors/users
Natural green spaces have been proven to reduce stress and promote health. In PikoParks, residents experience natural structures up close: buzzing wild bees, flowering plants, fragrant herbs. This increases their connection to nature and thus their sense of well-being. The inviting, versatile design in a small space offers peace, relaxation and neighbourly interaction (including discussions about the times when quiet is required and neighbourly conversations, cultural activities, etc. are permitted). Learning opportunities are also provided – the seasons can be experienced again, as the areas no longer appear monotonously green throughout the year. Families, senior citizens and children alike benefit from this close contact with nature. It also promotes identification with one’s own living environment.
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f) The selection, origin and quality of used products and materials (greenery and constructing materials)
At PikoParks, we consistently focus on native and site-appropriate wild plants that are adapted to the urban climate and increasing periods of heat and drought. We are not dogmatic in our approach and, upon request, we include residents’ favourite plants, provided they are not invasive or disrupt the overall appearance. The plants come mainly from certified, regional wild plant nurseries to ensure genetic authenticity and high ecological value. The natural garden specialist working for us, the Foundation for People and the Environment, purchases half of the plants as organic goods. The result is robust plant communities that provide a reliable food source for pollinating insects. Natural materials from the region are mainly used for structural elements such as standing deadwood, stone piles and dry stone walls. These durable, natural materials not only promote sustainable construction, but also serve as structurally rich habitats for numerous animal species.
g) The overall design (landscape and optional associated buildings)
The design of a PikoPark combines aesthetic requirements and the needs of user groups with ecological functionality. Paths, seating areas and waist-high, illustrated information boards (mostly A3 format, some specially designed for children) are harmoniously integrated into the planting areas, ensuring both a pleasant environment and educational value. Elements such as beetle cellars, lizard castles, sand lenses, dry stone walls and Benjes hedges ensure ecological diversity and give the areas an individual character. Residents can have a say in the selection of certain plants, e.g. snack fruits or herbs. The overall composition is taken care of by the planner from the specialist natural garden company, who always endeavours to integrate shaded seating areas where possible and desired by the residents. Our PikoParks have path concepts that allow residents to reach the centre of the mini(n)ature parks from as many different sides as possible.
h) The impact on the environment (holistic, circular approach)
PikoParks operate according to a circular approach: rainwater is retained via unsealed surfaces and can seep away on site (keyword: ‘sponge city’). No pesticides, chemical fertilisers or peat-based soil substrates are used. The wild plants used promote insect fauna and thus indirectly contribute to pollination in the surrounding area. Since the seed- and fruit-bearing shrubs and trees are left standing in autumn, beetles, birds, hedgehogs and other creatures have a much-needed food source in autumn. By avoiding frequent mowing and costly maintenance, CO₂ emissions are also reduced. The parks improve the soil quality and also promote biodiversity in the neighbourhood through seed
dispersal (as long as the plants are permitted). This has a long-term positive effect on the urban ecosystem.
i) The innovation value of the project
What makes PikoParks so special, apart from their closeness to nature, is their compactness and scalability: in a small space – usually no larger than 500 m² – they manage to combine ecological, social, experiential, aesthetic and climatic functions. This new type of green space, developed in 2017 by Wissenschaftsladen Bonn, can be transferred to many large European cities. The combination of biodiversity protection, climate adaptation, social interaction and environmental education in a compact, relatively inexpensive model is novel and groundbreaking. PikoParks are therefore an innovative tool for making large cities more sustainable and liveable.
For us as a housing construction company, the innovative value is particularly evident in the series of newly developed PikoParks, which are always different in appearance and which we always ‘garnish’ with a range of environmental education measures, participatory activities and a large inauguration ceremony. It really does feel ‘sustainably innovative’ when, instead of a one-off campaign, we now build (or have built) different types of PikoParks in several residential complexes with different people. When we consider the decades of lack of innovation in our green spaces, which are characterised by lawns, our series of new PikoParks certainly appears innovative for our industry.