The Tiroler Lech Nature Park is part of the cooperation project of the Tyrolean nature parks, which is funded by the province of Tyrol. Biodiversity and environmental education are linked in a variety of ways. The ecosystem meadow with all its inhabitants is the focus of the project, because species-rich flowering meadows are becoming increasingly rare. Yet they have important functions, as they provide habitats, nesting opportunities and food for numerous insects in particular. The project wants to create awareness for intact meadows and make the topic of "biodiversity" comprehensible through new environmental education concepts.

Sub-areas of the project:

Environmental education trainings

New contents and concepts were presented to our nature park guides and teachers of the nature park schools within the framework of training courses in order to convey the ecosystem meadow in an exciting way in the future. Questions were explored such as: What are the different types of meadows? What makes intact meadows so valuable? The program also included impulses for transferring the topic into practice: collecting seeds, preparing germination samples and creating flowering areas.

Active for biodiversity

In the second part of the project, flowering areas were planted on the outdoor grounds of the nature park house and other structurally rich elements were created as retreats for insects and co.

Workshop with nature park schools.
The students of the nature park schools have lent a hand and helped to create a colorful and species-rich outdoor area of the nature park house. First, insect-friendly flowering plants were planted and sown, which can be admired in full bloom in summer and attract wild bees, butterflies and other insects. When creating a flowering area, it is important to ensure that only native flowering plants are sown or planted. Especially in late summer, the colorful wildflower meadow is an important food source, providing nectar and pollen. In addition, it provides nesting opportunities for the coming year's offspring and is also a beautiful feast for the eyes. In addition to many other plants, the following plants now grow here: meadow bluebell (Centaurea jacea), mullein (Verbascum spp.), common viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare), corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas), chicory (Cichorium intybus), pigeon pea (Silene vulgaris)

Nature-oriented gardens as inspiration
To make the outdoor areas of the Nature Park House more attractive to insects and to other species, various elements were incorporated to increase structural richness: Deadwood piles that provide hiding and feeding opportunities, rock piles to provide refuge for heat- and drought-loving insects as well as reptiles and other species. A sandarium, an open sandy area to support ground-nesting insects. Or a Benjes hedge, where green cuttings and other material that accumulates in the garden is loosely piled on top of each other. Here, a wide variety of animals find shelter in the interstices.
Information boards give hints on the background, but above all instructions on how to provide the structures in your own garden. In this way, we can all contribute to the protection of species.