From full bloom to autumn – and Christmas gifts can once again support biodiversity at SDU
You may remember the story from the spring, when the lawn at the administration building at SDU in Odense was transformed into a flowerbed.
Over the summer, 2,000 square metres were in full bloom with the Butterfly Flower Mix – funded by employees who last year chose to donate their Christmas gifts to biodiversity at SDU.
The bed is now beginning to fade, but the summer has shown how much life such a bed can bring. And the initiative will be repeated.
Christmas gifts with growing power
It was 26 employees who last year chose to donate their Christmas gift, which raised a total of DKK 10,800 for biodiversity at SDU.
– It will be the same this year, says Rikke Pode Madsen, Team Leader in Purchasing.
– As an employee, you will again be able to choose from a range of Christmas gifts – including the opportunity to donate to biodiversity at SDU. Once again, it's up to the gardeners to decide what the money will be used for. I imagine it will be something similar to last year, she says.
And Henrik Toft from the Gardening Team in Building Maintenance confirms that the area will be replanted if the gift money is donated, but that this time the task will be approached a little differently.
Late flowering – but plenty of life
The bed was sown at the end of April and the flowers didn't really bloom until July and August.
– We had hoped to have flowers before the summer holidays, but the sowing required preparation, the grass had to be removed and then the soil had to settle, says Henrik Toft.
– On the other hand, the bed has been full of colour and life since flowering. It has served as a large larder for butterflies, bees and other insects.
The flowers are now past their peak, and the colours are fading. But the experience is good, and according to Henrik Toft, the gardeners will probably plant the area with the Butterfly Flower Mix again next year. And this time the flowering will hopefully begin before the summer holidays. At least there is a chance of that. The preparations are not as extensive after the first planting, so both sowing and flowering can take place earlier.
More biodiversity projects on the way
The Christmas gift bed is part of SDU's overall efforts to create more biodiversity on the campuses. Several places have already experimented with letting grass grow, and new projects are on the drawing board.
– We are working on spreading biodiversity projects to more areas, says Henrik Toft.
– But if you want colours, flora and fauna like in the Christmas bed, it requires a targeted effort with sowing or planting. It doesn't happen by itself just because you leave the grass standing.