Herzberge Landscape Park, Germany

Herzberge Landscape Park in Berlin replaces a former 100 hectare industrial space. What used to be a railyard and stadium is now orchards, paddocks and livestock.  From 2003 the site has been redeveloped into urban agricultural lands and park lands. Sheep have been grazing the paddocks on a rotation system since 2009 and they’re one reason a lot of people come to visit.

Before development the park was a mixture of residential, commercial and fallow green and brown spaces. Since the project was initiated the areas have been connected and transformed into biotopes, agricultural fields, and recreational spaces. Path systems were created to allow for and encourage public use and access. It is common for people to cycle, jog and otherwise use the park for leisurely purposes.

Visitors to the park will often come across sheep grazing in the paddocks. (Source: On the Grid, 2022)

The decision to introduce 35 Pomeranian sheep in 2009 to graze the area was made as an alternative way of maintaining the space. This model of utilising sheep to maintain green spaces in a combined recreational – agricultural area has been a subject of many scientific studies across Germany. The sheep in the Herzberge Landscape Park attract many Berliners and events such as the Lambs Festival and the Sheep Shearing and Harvest Festival celebrate their occupancy.

The Sand lizard’s habitat areas are prohibited to access by visitors, however if lucky, you may see some of the lizards from afar. (Source: On the Grid, 2022)

Stadtfarm has been operating in Herzberge Landscape Park since 2017 using AquaTerraPonik technology to farm fish, seasonal vegetables and tropical fruits. The farm has a shop where customers can purchase their products but they also distribute to areas in Berlin, offering fresh, pesticide and herbicide free produce and fish to the City.

The park has also received a protected landscape area status since 2019. One species especially benefited by this is the sand lizard. The resettlement of sand lizards in the park began in 2015 when areas were redeveloped to create a worthy habitat for the lizards full of sunbathing spots and hiding places. These areas are prohibited to visitors of the park for the protection of this endangered species.

The Pomeranian sheep brought in to the park graze the pastures in a rotation method. (Source: On the Grid, 2022)

For further information see the project’s own website.

Landschaftspark Herzberge

For information on Stadtfarm see here.

urban farming – smart aquaponic cityfarm for urban areas

Image: There has been development of many user paths throughout the park to encourage recreational use. (Source: On the Grid, 2022)

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