"It's fun to do something meaningful"

Mr. Irgel, since when and why has Stadtservice been committed to insect-friendly planting in cemeteries?
In 2021, our management defined the goal of bringing more biodiversity to Offenbach. This is in line with Stadtwerke's general strategy of promoting sustainability on as many levels as possible. Insect-friendly plants can be used to promote the biodiversity of plants and animals in the city, and the park-like cemeteries are particularly suitable for this.

Which varieties do you use most frequently?
For the bee pastures, we use a seed mixture of seven varieties that also grow here in the wild. These include sweet and flowering grasses, for example, which can withstand some drought and only need to be reseeded every few years. We have also planted new trees that tolerate climate change well, such as sessile oaks and stone pines. We choose the flowering perennials depending on the location and the amount of light.

Does appearance also play a role?
It definitely does. When my father was still a master gardener at the Offenbach cemeteries, it was all about low-maintenance plants. But evergreens are boring, and attitudes have changed: Today, plants are allowed to be colorful and appeal directly to people, inviting them to linger. Of course, this means more work, including the selection of insect-friendly varieties. But it's simply fun to do something useful that looks beautiful at the same time. Incidentally, our employees regularly spend their lunch breaks at the cemetery.

Do you have any insect-friendly tips for amateur gardeners?
We generally recommend composite flowers such as marigolds, daisies and primroses. They should be natural plants and not highly cultivated ones like forsythia - insects cannot find food in their bright yellow flowers. Daisies and dandelions also promote biodiversity on your doorstep, while we advise against lifeless gravel gardens. If you have enough space, you can plant a bluebell tree, as we did in Büsingpark in 2021: With its beautiful flowers, it attracts lots of bees and other insects in spring.