Experimental Botanical Garden:

The Experimental Botanical Garden is the scientific experimental garden of the University of Göttingen. Scientific research, plant cultivation for teaching purposes, environmental education, conservation of endangered species, and informing the public are among the main tasks of the garden. It provides excellent infrastructure for plant ecological research and, with its numerous research facilities, is unique in Germany and Central Europe.

Forest Botancial Garden:

The Forest Botanical Garden and the Plant Geographic Arboretum showcase over 40 hectares of more than 2000 taxa of woody plants. The emphasis is on collecting pure wild species with their subspecies and varieties. Consequently, the Forest Botanical Garden is one of the most significant and species-rich collections of woody plants in Europe. It is managed largely according to ecological principles, with the meadows recognized for the production of organic hay. This hay is then fed to organic cattle. The large herb-rich meadows harbor a diverse array of species and serve as a food source and habitat for a rich fauna, including small mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects.

A small bee paradise is being created on the lawn in front of the Central Library of the SUB: in the newly established perennial bed, over 400 drought-tolerant perennials are spread over 50 square meters. The soon-to-bloom, perennial plants will serve as an additional food source for wild bees and numerous other insect species.
The project was initiated and coordinated by the SUB Sustainability Working Group. The working group took up the concept presented by Jasper Rasokat in the 2022 Idea Competition for students. The project was funded by the city of Göttingen and the Universitätsbund Göttingen e. V. The Old Botanical Garden provided the self-cultivated perennials free of charge.

• More information on the insect-friendly perennial bed

Flower strips are narrow strips planted with flowers and offer numerous ecological and aesthetic benefits:

• They provide food for a variety of insects, birds, and other animals.
• The grasses and small shrubs provide shelter for reptiles and small mammals.
• Flower strips act as corridors, allowing animals to move safely under the protection of the plants.
• They can enhance the landscape and contribute to creating a diverse and attractive environment.

Thus, flower strips can make an important contribution to nature conservation and promoting biodiversity.
The University of Göttingen operates several flower strips on its premises.

The European hamster was once a common inhabitant of our fields in the fertile Börde landscapes. However, the situation has drastically deteriorated: Due to the decline in biodiversity, the food base for the European hamster has decreased, making it unfortunately a rarity worldwide. Nevertheless, there are still European hamsters on the North Campus of the University of Göttingen: Areas south of the Nordmensa and north of Otto-Hahn-Straße are managed in a hamster-friendly way by cultivating grains, various seed mixtures, and fallow strips in small-scale rotations. Please support the European hamsters on campus by not entering these areas and keeping dogs on a lead.

• More information about the Eurpoean Hamster on the North Campus