Ecological Upgrading of the Catholic Church of Christ the King

At the request of the Catholic Church in Kloten, the Nature Network ecologically upgraded the area as part of the internship training. Initially, there was a sterile lawn with very few plant species in the south-eastern part of the Catholic Church Center, which was regularly mowed with a lawnmower. This lawn is connected to a larger embankment in the south-west, which is interspersed with individual, non-native field trees and shrubs. This is followed by the "Spitz" forest area.

The uniform lawn area was made more colorful by reseeding UFA flower lawn CH-G, making it more interesting for the human eye as well as for bees and other insects. It can still be managed with a lawnmower (approx. 6 cuts per year), and fertilization is not necessary.

The creation of a small body of water has increased the structural diversity. This shallow water pond provides a habitat for many small animals that live near water, such as dragonflies and amphibians, water beetles and many more.

Structurally rich forest edges are very valuable habitats. The previous situation on the area adjacent to the forest edge included a few field trees and bushes, but an increase in structural diversity was desirable from an ecological point of view. A pile of leaves and branches was created, which serve as hiding places for hedgehogs and slowworms as well as other native animals. Nesting aids for bats and birds were also installed.

The project was a success for everyone. Regular care is now more varied and easier, a number of new niches for small animals were created with little effort and the Catholic Church in Kloten is actively and visibly supporting the preservation of our biodiversity.

We hope for further exciting upgrading projects on the church grounds, which have so far been rather monotonous and uniformly maintained.