The Tiroler Lech Nature Park is part of the Tyrolean Nature Parks cooperation project, which is funded by the state of Tyrol and the European Union. Biodiversity and environmental education are combined in a variety of ways. The meadow ecosystem with all its inhabitants is the focus of the project, as species-rich flowering meadows are becoming increasingly rare. However, they have important functions, as they provide habitats, nesting opportunities and food for numerous insects in particular. The project aims to raise awareness of intact meadows and make the topic of "biodiversity" tangible through new environmental education concepts.

Sub-areas of the project:

Environmental education training

Our nature park guides and teachers from the nature park schools were introduced to new contents and concepts in the course of training sessions in order to convey the ecosystem of meadows 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 programme 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 pupils of the nature park schools have lent a hand and helped to create a colourful and species-rich outdoor area of the nature park house. First of all, 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 colourful wildflower meadow is an important source of food because it offers nectar and pollen. It also provides nesting opportunities for the next year's offspring and is a beautiful feast for the eyes. Among many other plants, the following 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).

Natural gardens as inspiration
In order to make the outdoor areas of the nature park house more attractive for insects and for other species, various elements were installed to increase the structural richness: Deadwood piles that provide hiding and feeding opportunities, rock piles to provide refuge for heat and drought-loving insects but also 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 are loosely piled on top of each other. Here, a wide variety of animals find shelter in the gaps.
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.