Contestants Brave Survival on Isolated Isles
In the heart of Düsseldorf, the Deichwiesen meadows stand as some of the city's most ecologically valuable areas. These meadows, located along the Löricker Deich and the Lohauser Deich, are the focus of a significant conservation effort spearheaded by Düsseldorf's sewage treatment plant and the Deichverband Neue Deichschau Heerdt.
Mowing Practices
The conservation strategy for the Deichwiesen involves a careful approach to mowing. Instead of mowing intensively or too frequently, the organizations employ a controlled mowing schedule that protects flowering plants and provides habitats for insects and small animals. Mowing is typically delayed until after the peak flowering and breeding seasons, allowing plants to seed and wildlife to complete reproductive cycles. This approach promotes a diverse plant community and supports insects, such as pollinators.
Flower Strips and Disc Mowing Technique
The conservation effort also includes the establishment and maintenance of flower strips—narrow bands of native wildflower vegetation—along ditches and field edges. These strips serve as refuges and food sources for pollinators (bees, butterflies), birds, and other wildlife, enhancing habitat connectivity across the landscape. The use of a disc mower (Scheibenmäher) is specifically favoured because it cuts vegetation cleanly and with less soil disturbance compared to other mowing tools. This method reduces damage to ground-dwelling animals and prevents the destruction of sensitive plants.
Single Mowing Trial
This year, some flower strips on the Löricker Deich and the Lohauser Deich will be mown only once as a trial. The aim of this trial is to preserve the habitat for insects. The selection of areas for the trial was a collaborative effort with a landscape planning office.
Balancing Act
While the primary goal on riverbanks is to protect citizens from high water, the city's sewage treatment plant and the Deichverband Neue Deichschau Heerdt have given thought to how they can contribute to species conservation. The program is ecologically accompanied by a specialized planning office for documentation. The documentation focuses on both positive effects on ecology and potential negative effects on the grass sward.
Unmown Meadows
Twice a year, the Düsseldorf Deichwiesen are mown, with the grass clippings removed, creating species-rich meadows. Unmown meadows may not be as colorful, but they contribute to biodiversity through the blooming of existing plants and the height of the grass. Mowing certain types of grass on dikes helps to stabilize the dike soil during high water and prevent soil erosion. Despite the need to mow certain types of grass for dike protection, the city's sewage treatment plant uses the "disc mowing technique" for mowing, which spares more insects than traditional methods, increasing their chances of survival.
In summary, through these targeted management strategies—timed mowing schedules, establishment of flower strips, and careful use of disc mowers—Düsseldorf’s sewage treatment plant and the Deichverband Neue Deichschau Heerdt contribute significantly to conserving the rich biodiversity of the Düsseldorf Deichwiesen meadow habitats by protecting plant species, supporting pollinators, and preserving animal habitats.
- The conservation strategies for the Deichwiesen meadows, such as the controlled mowing schedule and the establishment of flower strips, are designed to protect plant species, support insects like pollinators, and preserve animal habitats, promoting a diverse plant community and contributing significantly to the rich biodiversity in Düsseldorf.
- With the disc mowing technique being favored due to its minimal soil disturbance, the maintenance of home-and-garden spaces around the Düsseldorf Deichwiesen considers both environmental-science principles and the consideration of various lifestyle choices, aiming to strike a balance between dike protection and species conservation.
