Information for green space sponsors

• Green strips improve the air quality and dampen traffic noise.
• They absorb rainwater and slowly release it back into their surroundings. In this way, they mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall events. By evaporating water, they cool down the city on hot days.
• The bushes and trees provide shade.
• The plants on the green strips absorb CO2 and produce oxygen. In this way, they contribute to climate protection and ensure better air quality in the city.
• Some of the green strips separate pedestrians and cyclists from motorized traffic.
• Planted traffic islands serve in part to reduce the speed of motorized traffic.
• The green spaces contribute to greater biodiversity, as they provide a habitat for insects, birds and small wild animals.

• The responsibility and duty to ensure traffic safety always lies with the city, which passes the execution on to the municipal utilities. These duties cannot be transferred to the sponsors.
• Footpaths, cycle paths and the road must remain clear. Plants should be chosen that do not grow too large. Branches that protrude onto the road, footpath or cycle path should be cut back.
• Traffic signs and traffic signals must not be obscured by branches or leaves.
• Robust plants should be chosen for the green areas in the street, as the conditions are often challenging: The soil is often compacted and, depending on the area, the plants are exposed to sunlight and heat or receive little light due to dense development in the surrounding area. The plants are exposed to traffic fumes all year round, as well as dog excrement and urine. In winter, the areas can be contaminated by road salt.

Insect-friendly perennials are particularly suitable, such as echinacea, asters, verbena, steppe sage, rudbeckia, blue rue, shea buttercup, grass lily, catmint, stonecrop or scented nettles.

Plants for the sponsorship areas can be ordered via Tobias Milbrat. Stadtwerke Offenbach will subsidize the initial planting with €150.

In recent years, summers in Offenbach have been hot and dry and longer periods of drought are to be expected in the future. Green space sponsors should therefore select plants that are suitable for the respective location, can cope well with dry periods and no longer need to be watered once they have grown.

Drinking water can become scarce, especially during prolonged dry periods, so this resource should be used sparingly. The Zweckverband Wasserversorgung Stadt und Kreis Offenbach has set up a drinking water traffic light. In the event of a water emergency, an emergency regulation comes into force which also regulates the watering of plants: Newly planted trees may then be watered twice a week in the early morning, other perennial plants may be watered sparingly.

The areas are marked with appropriate signs. The signs are intended to draw attention to the fact that these are areas that are cared for with heart and soul by committed citizens and contribute to a corresponding appreciation.

The sponsored areas remain part of the public space and should remain accessible.

Decorations should only be used sparingly and must be completely removed when the area is returned.

Nesting boxes for birds, insect hotels, wild bee houses and bird feeders may be put up. However, the areas are usually too small to provide shelter for larger wild animals such as hedgehogs. If the area is larger, you can discuss with the Environmental Agency whether it is possible to set up a shelter for wild animals.

Nesting boxes for birds should be cleaned after the breeding season.