Over 600 shrubs and over 2000 perennials found their place in the Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach. This vibrant edible garden in Kassel’s eastern part sits beside the Wahlebach river. The path along the stream is a popular cycling route. It connects Kassel’s center with the districts of Waldau and Forstfeld. The Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach is a collaborative project. It was planned in 2022 with the help of the Baumrausch planning office and the IPG participation office. Many people helped with the planning.
The Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach officially opened in May 2023. Around 225 large fruit trees were planted. These include cherries apple trees sweet chestnuts and hazelnut trees. The Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach doesn’t stop there. It boasts a wide variety of edible plants. Mulberries almonds nashi pears kiwis and more thrive here. The shrub layer features raspberries jostaberries and wineberries. The herb layer includes woodruff and wild strawberries.
The Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach is more than just a garden. It’s a community hub. A small group meets weekly to tend to the garden. The Urbaner Waldgärten team and the gardening group welcome new members. They need help maintaining the area. The Urbaner Waldgärten team in Kassel works at the city’s Environment and Garden Office. This four-person team coordinates and supports the project. They advise the community of citizens and educational institutions. Dorothee Quentin is the project manager. Lena Chmielewski is responsible for environmental education. Ronja Burgdorf and David Löscher focus on gardening support.
Environmental education activities started in spring 2022. Many groups use the Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach for educational purposes. Over 200 children and teenagers participated in planting activities. The Waldau Open School now has a weekly gardening club. They created their own area within the Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach. The Waldau kindergarten also uses the garden for nature-based gardening. Even the school’s technology club helped. They built a Documenta pavilion and trellises. A design class made signs for the Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach. They also developed a digital scavenger hunt.
Other educational institutions groups like the Awo family help and the Kassel children’s and youth welfare office regularly visit. They participate in activities like creating meadows planting vegetables herbs building straw bale beds painting tree stakes. They use magnifying glasses to explore the area and even create art. School holiday workshops are held here as part of the Waldau holiday program. Adult education programs are also offered. This includes collaborations with the Kassel Volkshochschule. Guided tours are popular. Various groups learn about the garden’s functions. Bird watching courses scything workshops herb walks and even meditation yoga classes are offered. The Urbaner Waldgarten Wahlebach is a place of discovery. It is a place for learning and community. It is a unique urban oasis.