Right here is a place where learning sprouts. The Lehr- und Schulgarten Hannover is not just a garden. It is a living classroom. It’s a place where students connect with nature.
Let’s step back in time. The Schulbiologiezentrum Hannover started small. In 1883, it was a modest botanical garden near Pferdeturm. Space became an issue, and in 1892, it moved to Kirchröder Straße. Over time, it grew into Germany’s largest environmental education center primarily for school needs. Today, over 50,000 visitors come each year.
Imagine this garden, a place born in 1927, designed for hands-on botany experiences. By 1974, it became the main hub for the Schulbiologiezentrum Hannover. This organization now includes the Freiluftschule Burg and the Botanischer Schulgarten Linden.
Here at the Lehr- und Schulgarten, practical experience is everything. It spans 7.5 hectares. The garden offers many natural science learning opportunities. The name “Botanischer Schulgarten” reflects its 80-year commitment to practical school garden work.
But it is more than just a botanical garden. It includes zoological themes plus physical and geographical aspects. Think meteorology, solar technology, astronomy, and geology. The large school garden is mostly cultivated by students. It features a variety of useful plants at Lehr- und Schulgarten.
Look around you. Notice the diverse biotopes. There are ponds, alder and birch groves, deciduous forests, and meadows. Students of all ages study plants, animals, bodies of water and soils. They also study microclimates and other ecological topics.
The Lehr- und Schulgarten provides all necessary materials for investigations. You can explore themed gardens that illustrate special aspects. Genetics and evolution are on display. You will find medicinal herbs in the Apothekergarten and aromatic plants. Do not miss the vegetable garden, the Geogarten, the insect garden and the fruit orchard.
Did you know that the central blue pavilion is also an office building? The Bienenhaus and the Gärtnerhaus provide space for school classes. The pavilion houses an extensive library. The lending center in the Alte Schulgebäude provides materials for lessons at school or here.
Our perennial nursery cultivates plants for school gardens. The tropical greenhouse cultivates rainforest plants. It is a rainforest under glass. It gives a tangible sense of the variety of plant adaptations in the jungle. This is deliberately done without audiovisual aids at Lehr- und Schulgarten.
The Schulimkerei shows how bees live in social groups. Experiments on the orientation behavior of honeybees are part of the program. You can even experience the harvesting of honey.
Adjacent to the Schulgarten Burg is the Freiluftschule Burg. It features about 6.5 hectares of forest, meadow, and pond.
The Lehr- und Schulgarten Hannover is a testament to hands-on learning. The garden connects students to the natural world. It also supports teachers and promotes environmental awareness. It started as a small garden. Now, it is a leading center for environmental education.