Total cost is 1.45 million euros Nature center improves and expands

Bonn · The modest House of Nature at Waldau gets spruced up to become a modern nature and information center. The federal government has teamed up with Bonn to invest 1.45 million euros in the transformation. An opening is expected at the end of 2018.

Especially children can look forward to the re-opening of the Nature Center in Waldau at the end of 2018. Experiencing and participating in nature with all the senses will become a top priority at the center.

Here’s just one example of how this is expected to work: A small research group goes into the forest and collects soil samples. The youth are then brought back to the Haus der Natur (House of Nature) where they can examine everything in the laboratory. David Baier of the City Office for Urban Green, didn’t want to reveal too much but said that some of the forest animals which children had recently painted for a contest, will appear in the exhibition at the nature center.

City to rent property for 20 years

Conversion and expansion of the half-timbered house at the House of Nature on the Venusberg will cost 1.45 million euros. The federal government is responsible for 90 percent of the costs, and Bonn pays the remainder of 145,000 euros. The only condition is that the city remains a tenant there for at least 20 years, implementing a sustainable project on environmental education. Sponsors are already making sure that special features can be offered.

For visitors, the biggest change is that the entrance area will change, putting it just across from the playground. There it opens into a large foyer with stairs and elevator. Restroom facilities will be available during opening hours, and the nature center will be open free of charge. It will also be accessible without barriers for the first time.

On the first floor, environmentalists young and old will be able to experiment. And the view of the forest from up there is indeed an added bonus. A second, small seminar room is also planned for meetings.

The beehives will return

While the bee hives have been temporarily moved to another location, the honeycombs will definitely be brought back again. And exhibitions which change regularly are expected to be a big draw for schools and institutions. These could range from themes involving climate and waste paper to city forests. “We want to be flexible here.” Not to be forgotten is the cultivated farm garden of Heinz-Günter Radermacher, which will be enlarged to reach the new entrance.

The nature center is slowly growing and officials will soon be searching for management to run the center. Next door, the restaurant remains empty but this is also a work in progress and the plan is to establish a gastronomy which has a permanent presence.

Orig. Text: Richard Bongartz Translation:ckloep

Meistgelesen
Neueste Artikel
Zum Thema
Aus dem Ressort