NaturGarten e.V.

NaturGarten e.V. is a German non-profit association dedicated to the natural garden movement. Founded in 1990 in Munich, it is headquartered in Bonn and has grown into a nationwide network of roughly 5,000 members, including gardeners, biologists, landscape architects, private enthusiasts, schools and other organisations. The association promotes gardens and green spaces designed with native plants as habitats for native animals, and it works to advance biodiversity in built-up areas. The association's work spans practical advice, education, science and policy. It organises the annual Naturgartentage conference, runs the Naturgarten-Akademie for training and seminars, and supports 41 regional groups and 17 working groups. It publishes the quarterly magazine Natur & Garten and maintains an interactive map of natural garden habitats. It cooperates with partners such as Bioland, the German Nature Conservation Ring (Deutscher Naturschutzring) and European sister organisations like Bioterra in Switzerland and Stichting Oase in the Netherlands. NaturGarten e.V. has been involved in research and demonstration projects, including flower meadow trials, greening of industrial areas and the Federal Biological Diversity programme project 'Tausende Gärten – Tausende Arten'. Since 2019 it has created show gardens at German Federal Garden Shows (Bundesgartenschauen) and is scheduled to appear at the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) in 2027. In 1999 it received the German Horticultural Society's prize for environmental education. The association is led by a five-member board and remains a membership-based, non-profit organisation.

NaturGarten e.V. was founded in 1990 in Munich, following the model of the Swiss association Natur Garten (VNG). The founding members were gardeners, biologists, garden designers and landscape architects convinced by the natural garden idea. The founding statute was adopted at the second founding meeting in Gräfelfing on 21 September 1990. The association later revised its statute several times, including a new version at the members' meeting on 1 February 2001 in Grünberg, and further amendments in 2002, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2025. From its early years, the association organised the annual Naturgartentage, first held in 1991, which bring together speakers from Germany and abroad for three to four days. In 1993 it began nationwide work on creating natural adventure spaces for children and young people. In 1996–1998 it participated in the exhibition project 'Die gefährdeten Wiesen Europas' at the Kunst- und Ausstellungshalle der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in Bonn, under the direction of artists Helen Mayer Harrison and Newton Harrison. In 1999 it received the 'Preis für Wege der Umwelterziehung' from the Deutsche Gartenbau-Gesellschaft 1822 for its environmental education work. Scientific and practical projects have been a core part of its history. From 1997 to 2000 it conducted a flower meadow test with the Sächsische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft in Dresden-Pillnitz. In 2007 it cooperated with the Bundesamt für Naturschutz (BfN) on a study of near-natural greening of industrial and commercial areas. It also took part in the BfN-funded project 'Tausende Gärten – Tausende Arten' within the Federal Biological Diversity programme. Since 2019 it has designed show areas at Bundesgartenschauen, and it is scheduled to appear at the International Garden Exhibition (IGA) in 2027. By 2026 the non-profit association had about 5,000 members from Germany and other European countries, supported by volunteers, 41 regional groups and 17 working groups. It is led by five board members, with coordination and administration handled by the federal office in Bonn. The association maintains contacts with European sister organisations such as Bioterra (Switzerland) and Stichting Oase (Netherlands), is a member of the Deutscher Naturschutzring, and cooperates with Bioland for the distribution of organically grown native wild perennials. It publishes the quarterly magazine Natur & Garten and runs the Naturgarten-Akademie for further education.

• 2026

  Approximately 5,000 members; 41 regional groups and 17 working groups.

• 2019

  Began designing show areas at Bundesgartenschauen.

• 2007

  Cooperated with Bundesamt für Naturschutz on study of greening industrial areas.

• 2001

  New statute adopted at members' meeting on 1 February in Grünberg.

• 1999

  Awarded 'Preis für Wege der Umwelterziehung' by Deutsche Gartenbau-Gesellschaft 1822.

• 1997

  Conducted flower meadow test with Sächsische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft (until 2000).

• 1996

  Participated in exhibition project 'Die gefährdeten Wiesen Europas' (until 1998).

• 1993

  Began nationwide work on natural adventure spaces for children and youth.

• 1991

  First annual Naturgartentage conference held.

• 1990

  Founded in Munich; founding statute adopted on 21 September in Gräfelfing.

• Scheduled to appear at International Garden Exhibition (IGA); Naturgartentage from 11 to 14 February 2027.

Non-profit association and network for the natural garden movement, promoting biodiversity with native plants.

• Natur & Garten magazine

  Quarterly specialist magazine.

• Naturgarten-Akademie

  Training and education programme with seminars and conferences.

• Interactive habitat map

  Online map explaining natural garden habitats.

• Jeder Quadratmeter zählt
• Tausende Gärten – Tausende Arten

1. 1Naturgarten - Seite des Naturgarten e.V.naturgarten.org
2. 2Naturgarten - Satzung des NaturGarten e. V.naturgarten.org
3. 3Naturgarten - Vorstand des NaturGarten e. V.naturgarten.org
4. 4Naturgarten - Präsident NaturGarten e. V.naturgarten.org
5. 5Natural garden (association) - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Naturgarten (Verein) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org