Allotment Olympiad: Leverkusen green areas fight for the title!

Allotment Olympiad: Leverkusen green areas fight for the title!

In Leverkusen, the highly expected award ceremony took place in the competition for the most beautiful allotment garden on Friday evening. Many gardeners and guests stormed the event, including prominent personalities such as district mayor Dr. Ulrich Liebtrau and Mayor Uwe Richrath, at. Everyone wanted to experience the honor of the best allotment gardens in the urban area. The atmosphere was characterized by anticipation and sense of community, while the participants were waiting for the results.

A total of 14 different allotment gardens took part in the competition. These small oases that arise in the urban hustle and bustle of Leverkusen are places of retreat and nature closeness. The tradition of the allotment garden building in Leverkusen goes back to 1932 when the first facility was created. The city association of allotment gardeners was founded in 1952 and has played an important role in the life of the city since then.

from the award ceremony to the competition

at 6 p.m. Dr. Liebetrau the event with personal words and appreciated the work of the participants. During the award ceremony, honorary certificates were initially awarded to all participating institutions before it passed to the announcement of the winners. Third place went to the allotment garden Alfred Vissel, while the Mathildenhof facility took second place. The winner's cup for 2023 was presented to the Hitdorf allotment garden, and a special price was also awarded to the Bernshecke facility. All winners received small sponsored prize money for their services.

The selection among the participating systems turned out to be a difficult task for the jury. On a long day from 7 a.m. to 5:15 p.m., the jurors examined the individual gardens and checked whether they corresponded to the specified gardening rules. This includes, among other things, specifications for planting and space use, whereby at least 30 percent of the garden area must be reserved for crops. This year, ecological aspects such as biodiversity and climate protection were particularly weighted.

The role of volunteering

An essential aspect of the event was the express thank you to the volunteer club board members and officials who work without remuneration in the service of their clubs. Dr. Liebtrau emphasized how important these volunteers are for the continued existence and the attractiveness of the allotment garden facilities in Leverkusen. "Without their commitment, the allotment gardens would not be what they are for the city of Leverkusen," he said.

The popularity of allotment in the city has increased significantly since the pandemic. According to Thomas Korioth, the first chairman of the Leverkusen city association of the allotment gardeners, all plots are currently awarded, and interested parties must expect up to three years.

Nevertheless, there are ways to get an allotment garden. If you are interested in your own garden, you can apply directly to the respective clubs. The contact details of these clubs can be found on the website of the city association under the item "Association member associations", which is a nice opportunity for all gardener lovers to become part of this community and maybe continue to be able to take part in the competitions in the future.