The Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine Deutschlands e. V. (BKD) (formerly Bundesverband Deutscher Gartenfreunde e. V., BDG), the umbrella organisation of the allotment garden movement in Germany, awards the science prize every four years to scientists and students who deal with the allotment garden movement and forward-looking ideas on the ecological, urban planning and social function of allotment gardens.
Research in the fields of urban, regional and landscape planning, horticultural sciences, climate geography, landscape ecology, nature and environmental protection as well as health and nutrition is required.
The next deadline for entries is 31 March 2027, so in theory there is still plenty of time to get started on one or two new research projects!
• Teams of scientists and students, editors or the authors themselves are eligible to enter.
• Prize money totalling 5,000 euros is available to honour the work.
• The BKD also expressly welcomes English-language works! The works for the current competition must be from the period 2023 to 2027
Further information can be found in the appendix and at
https://kleingarten-bund.de/veranstaltungen/wettbewerbe/wissenschaftspreis-2/
We would be delighted if you could help us publicise the BKD Science Award among interested parties - whether on your website, as a notice or via your social media channels.
For this purpose, we provide you with graphic templates in the appendix . You are welcome to use the short text:
The Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine Deutschlands e. V. (BKD) honours with the BKD Science Prize scientific work that deals with forward-looking ideas on the subject of allotment gardens. Scientists and students can apply for the award
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Yours sincerely
The project team of the science prize
Contact:
Federal Federation of German Allotment Garden Associations e. V.
wissenschaftspreis@kleingarten-bund.de
This is the 41st anniversary of the Day of the Garden!
At the instigation of the Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine Deutschlands e. V. (formerly BDG), the Day of the Garden has been celebrated on the second Sunday in June since 1984 and raises awareness of the importance of the allotment garden movement for the well-being of people and nature in town and country.
A good opportunity to open up allotment gardens and sites throughout Germany to interested parties and invite them to take part in activities, visit the gardens and exchange ideas!
Central festive event 2025 in Schleswig-Holstein
In 2025, the central kick-off event will take place in the GOLD award-winning allotment garden site of the Friedrichsgabe association in Norderstedt. Exceptionally, as the Whitsun weekend is in the way, the Landesverband der Kleingartenvereine Schleswig-Holsteins e. V. will hold the festival on Saturday, 14 June 2025.
The Minister President Daniel Günther has taken over the patronage and thus expresses his benevolence towards our members and our hobby. It is particularly important to us to celebrate this special garden festival where it belongs - with the allotment gardeners. The Friedrichsgabe association, our participant in the last national competition ‘Gardens in urban development’, has agreed to sweep the ‘Pilzhagen 3’ site once again and prepare it for guests from near and far. The modern design is well worth seeing. It is located in a local recreation area, not far from housing and industry. Once you have passed through the garden gate, you will quickly forget the unsettled surroundings. Come and see for yourself!
‘Allotment gardens - We know how green works!’
The motto for 2025 is ‘Allotment gardens - We know how green works!’, which emphasises the importance of greenery for the neighbourhood and at the same time the allotment gardeners' expertise in green and environmental issues. On 14 June 2025, we will focus on specialist advice. Our volunteers will present their knowledge on the topics of specialist advice in a wide variety of ways. In addition to the classic areas, the ‘new’ fields of action will also be presented. Drought, heat, heavy rainfall and the loss of biodiversity can be demonstrably mitigated with the possibilities of our areas and the commitment of our members. We want to show how.
Allotment gardens offer recreation, education and community for people from different social and cultural backgrounds. They are open to all, including non-members, and often serve as venues for training and conservation activities. The allotment garden associations are heavily involved in fairs, festivals and charity events in their communities and towns. They do a lot for the integration of newcomers and gardens quickly become a piece of home. Association means society, society unites! Club-based gardening has been a successful concept for over 200 years. We want to showcase this on the Day of the Garden.
For the nationwide kick-off event for the Day of the Garden, we will be organising a festival not only for local gardening enthusiasts - we will be welcoming guests from all over Germany. We want to offer a colourful programme for young and old. Food and drink will be catered for and there will always be enough space to chat both professionally and privately.
https://kleingarten-bund.de/veranstaltungen/wettbewerbe/tag-des-gartens/
Author: Thomas Kleinworth, federal advisor of the BKD and managing director of the regional federation of allotment garden associations in Schleswig-Holstein
The federal center of the Bundesverband der Kleingartenvereine e.V. in Berlin will once again be the venue for numerous events on the subject of allotment gardening this year. The target group for the training courses are multipliers from associations and federations of the allotment garden movement organized by the BKD. In contrast to many other forms of urban gardening, the allotment garden movement with its organizational structure offers the guarantee of having real multipliers as participants in the training courses. They provide advice and support to the allotment gardeners inside and outside the associations and thus contribute to the welfare of society within the framework of civic engagement.
On April 25 and 26, 2025, representatives of the regional associations will meet at the Federal Center in Berlin-Neukölln to discuss current political issues and association topics at regional association level.
The BKD invites you to the seminar "Expert advice I" entitled "Designing living areas in allotment gardens" from May 16-18, 2025. The seminar is intended to provide suggestions and basic knowledge for the sustainable design of allotment gardens and allotment garden sites and to show how all areas of an allotment garden can be used, upgraded, designed and maintained in an ecological, sustainable and climate-friendly manner in the interests of promoting biodiversity and diversity.
The seminar Law I, from June 27-29, 2025 will focus on "The social and ecological importance of allotment gardening and its reflection in law".
The seminar Fachberatung II 2025 entitled "Allotment garden sites - values and functions for our society" will focus on the diverse social benefits that radiate from allotment gardening into society. The seminar will take place from July 04 to 06, 2025.
From October 10-12, 2025, the BKD and its guests will devote themselves to the "Fundamental court decisions on allotment gardening" in the seminar Law II for a better understanding of the legal basis.
The seminar on the environment entitled "Allotment gardens and health", which will take place from October 24-26, 2025, is intended to help promote health in and through allotment garden sites throughout Germany. In particular, it will strengthen the skills of board members, those responsible for specialist advice and valuation in environmentally and health-conscious federation and association management.
The BKD also offers regular online training courses, such as the online legal series for club chairpersons and, from fall 2025, an online training course for specialist advisors from clubs, district and city associations.
Sandra von Rekowski, BKD
Picture: BKD
