City of Bregenz promotes nature: New wine and orchard at the Amttor!

City of Bregenz promotes nature: New wine and orchard at the Amttor!

In Bregenz, passion for nature goes hand in hand with a modern approach to recultivation. The Bregenz city gardening center is committed to nature-oriented design and the promotion of biodiversity. The wine and orchard at Amttor, which opened in June 2018, is a prime example of this initiative. On a historic slope below the upper town, a traditional vineyard is being reinterpreted.

The vines chosen were the fungus-resistant white wine variety “Johanniter”, which enables environmentally friendly and resource-saving viticulture. This sustainable method is also reflected in the history of viticulture in Bregenz, which played an important role in the economy in the 14th century. The old vineyards that once flourished on the sunny slopes of the upper town are now visible again through recultivation and integrated into an ecological concept.

Ecological oasis in the city

But that's not all. The garden contributes to promoting biodiversity by planting local fruit varieties, wild trees and species-rich meadow flowers. Natural care creates refuges for insects, reptiles and birds, creating a structurally rich and lively ecosystem. By foregoing chemical plant protection and selecting resistant varieties, an oasis-like calm is brought to the state capital.

An example from winegrowing practice confirms that the use of biodiversity is not only ecologically sensible, but also economically profitable. As in an article on Permaculture agriculture reported, winegrowers like Karin and Roland Lenz in Uesslingen are successfully using fungus-resistant grape varieties and promoting the growth of over 1,000 fruit trees as well as more than 2,000 native trees, shrubs and bushes on their 27-hectare winery. Such initiatives show that biodiversity benefits both nature and the economy.

Diversity and resilience

Loud LWG Bavaria The biological diversity in wine-growing areas is closely related to the structural richness of the vineyards. Dry, hot vineyards provide a habitat for special flora and fauna and rely on vegetation as a food source for numerous animal species. Recultivation in Bregenz takes up these principles by promoting strong resilience to climate change through robust plant species.

Diverse plants and animals contribute to a functioning ecosystem in which even species such as the endangered Lauer cicada have a chance of survival. Measures to promote biodiversity are essential: edge strips and flowering areas should be preserved in order to provide a home for beneficial insects and thus make the entire wine landscape more attractive.

In the midst of the urban environment, such projects not only preserve traditional culture, but also make a valuable contribution to the urban quality of nature and quality of life. With the recultivation of the vineyard and orchard at the Amttor, Bregenz shows that a harmonious coexistence of nature and the city is possible.