A litter collection campaign in Griesheim combines environmental awareness and animal welfare
Eleven enthusiastic children and teenagers participated in the "Donkey Meadow Clean Up" in the Griesheim city forest on Wednesday (October 1st). The meeting point was the Blue Box in northern Griesheim, from where the group, together with staff from the youth center, headed towards the forest. There, the team began collecting trash at the edge of the areas where the donkeys will soon graze.
In sunny autumn weather, the participants found bottles, cans, plastic bags, and even larger items such as household waste and shopping carts. Afterwards, they met the donkeys and learned more about their important role in the ecological balance of the city forest. As a thank you, everyone received a small gift.
The campaign was part of the annual district-wide waste collection initiative of the Zweckverband Abfall- und Wertstoffeinsammlung (ZAW) Darmstadt-Dieburg and was organized by the youth services, the environmental office and the citizen participation coordination office – with support from the municipal building yard.
“It’s great to see how enthusiastic the children and young people are about their environment and how they take responsibility. Such initiatives show how much commitment the younger generation has,” said Hannah Hager from the youth services department.
Forest grazing by donkeys – a sustainable concept
The Griesheim municipal forest is suffering from the effects of drought, heat, and a large population of cockchafers. Extensive grazing with donkeys is intended to reduce grass growth and promote tree regeneration. The animals help keep the soil open and thus support the forest's regeneration.
The donkeys Bruno, Beppo, Frodo, Ferdinand, Winnie the Pooh, Fred, Fritz, Max, and others are cared for on the designated areas, while the Stürz landscape management farm takes care of their needs.
More information about forest grazing in Griesheim can be found at: www.griesheim.de/
(GRIESHEIM – RED/PSG)
