A participatory project creates new green spaces and more heat protection
Less asphalt, more greenery, and additional shaded areas in the future: The schoolyard of the Friedrich-Ebert-School in Darmstadt has become a bit more natural. At a joint planting event at the end of October, schoolchildren, parents, teachers, and members of the BUND Darmstadt (Friends of the Earth Germany) planted numerous trees, perennials, and flower bulbs. The event was part of the city's "Darmstadt Paves Away" campaign and is intended to mark the beginning of further heat protection measures at Darmstadt schools and daycare centers.
The greening project was organized primarily by the Office for Climate Protection and Climate Adaptation of the City of Darmstadt. The aim was to reduce sealed surfaces in the schoolyard and create new habitats for plants and animals.
Removed approximately 65 square meters of asphalt
Prior to the planting campaign, a specialist company had already unsealed, bordered and equipped four areas in the schoolyard with new planting substrate.
In total, around 65 square meters of asphalt disappeared, which can heat up considerably on hot summer days.
In its place, new green spaces were created with three native, drought-tolerant trees: a field maple, a hornbeam, and a London plane tree.
The trees are intended to provide shade in the future and help to reduce the summer heat stress in the schoolyard.
More than 300 wildflowers and 750 flower bulbs
In addition to the three trees, further planted areas were created to ecologically enhance the schoolyard.
Under the guidance of natural gardener Eva Distler, the numerous helpers planted more than 300 wild perennials, two shrubs and over 750 flower bulbs in the prepared beds.
The schoolchildren in particular participated in the project with great interest. They helped to plant the plants, bulbs, and tubers.
The new planting areas create additional habitats for insects and other animals. At the same time, children can directly experience how plants grow and how nature changes throughout the seasons.
Environmental officer Kolmer: This initiative should set a precedent
Environmental officer Michael Kolmer sees the greening of schoolyards as an example of how climate adaptation and environmental education can be combined.
“This first initiative of its kind should set a precedent! We need more projects like this,” Kolmer explains.
The planting campaign has shown how climate adaptation, urban nature and practical learning can be successfully combined in so-called open-air classrooms.
In addition to the immediate benefits for the urban climate, the new green spaces should also offer educational opportunities.
The students can observe the development of the plants and gain experience in natural design and environmental protection.
More schools and daycare centers are to follow
The greening of the Friedrich-Ebert-School should not remain an isolated project.
School superintendent Holger Klötzner announces that the city plans to implement further heat protection measures at schools and daycare centers in the coming years.
“The participatory campaign for the greening of the schoolyard at the Friedrich-Ebert-School marks the start of further measures for heat protection in schools and daycare centers in the coming years,” explains Klötzner.
He attributes the fact that the project could be realized within a short time to the cooperation of numerous participants.
In addition to the school and the school board, the following were involved, among others: the Darmstadt municipal real estate management company, the office for climate protection and climate adaptation, the mobility and civil engineering office, the green spaces office, the fire department and various specialist companies.
Darmstadt achieves fourth place in the de-sealing competition
The planting campaign deliberately took place in the final phase of the nationwide competition “abpflastern”, which ended on October 31, 2026.
The aim of this competition was to remove sealed surfaces and create space for green areas and the natural seepage of rainwater.
Darmstadt came in fourth place in the final ranking of major cities. According to the city, this was based on 431 unsealed paving stones per 1,000 inhabitants.
With the campaign “Darmstadt paves over”, the science city wants to initiate further projects that reduce sealed surfaces and make the city more resilient to heat and heavy rain.
The Friedrich-Ebert-School now serves as an exemplary model of how such measures can be implemented together with children, parents and teachers.
Further information about the campaign and the competition can be found at www.darmstadt.de/abpflastern.
The most important information
Project: Hands-on planting campaign at the Friedrich-Ebert-School
Location: Schoolyard of the Friedrich-Ebert-School, Darmstadt
Timeframe: End of October 2026
Unsealed area: Approximately 65 square meters
New trees: Three – field maple, hornbeam and London plane tree
Further planting: More than 300 wildflowers, two shrubs and over 750 flower bulbs
Participants: Schoolchildren, parents, teachers, BUND Darmstadt and city offices
Expert guidance: Natural gardener Eva Distler
Campaign: "Darmstadt is paving over"
Goals: Heat protection, climate adaptation, more urban nature and practical environmental education
Outlook: Further measures for heat protection at schools and daycare centers in the coming years
"Paving over" competition: Darmstadt achieves fourth place among major cities
