Green Islands on campus
Join us and the AStA's Eco-Department to make the campus greener! Here you can find all the important information about the project and how you can get involved.
Join in!
We need your support in planting and watering the green seating areas. Whether as a student organization or an individual, all help is appreciated!
Are you as a Fachschaft (or any kind of student group) interested in adopting and caring for an island? Contact us via email or on Instagram!
Our project group is connected via Signal. Join the group so you don't miss anything. You can still help if you don´t have Signal. Simply contact us via email or Instagram!
Our joint planting event took place on Friday, July 18, 2025. We would like to thank all of our helpers for the wonderful afternoon! You can find impressions of the event down below.
Irrigation: In the summer, the plants are watered twice a week, on Mondays and Fridays. From mid-September onwards, only on Mondays. We assign the watering duty and enter it in the irrigation schedule. If you are on watering duty, you are responsible for watering the gardening beds. You will find the necessary equipment on site. After watering, you must enter “done” in the irrigation schedule so that we know that someone has watered the plants. Step-by-step instructions for watering can be found on our Instagram page!
Interested in watering? Write to us via email at greenoffice@uni-bonn.de!
Why are plants on campus impotant?
Biodiversity
A green, biodiverse campus is more than just beautiful to look at: it provides an important contribution to ecological sustainability.
- Boosting biodiversity: Native plant species such as Betonica officinalis (betony) and Origanum vulgare (oregano) provide food and a habitat for numerous insects, including wild bees, butterflies, and beetles.
- Improving the climate: Vegetated spaces cool the surrounding area through evaporation and bind fine dust and CO₂, thus creating a more pleasant microclimate.
- Recreation & well-being: Studies show that a green environment reduces stress and improves concentration. Just right for a place of learning like the Campus Poppelsdorf!
- Education in everyday life: The “Green Islands” invite you to learn more about ecological relationships and sustainable environmentfriendly design.
A look inside the gardening beds
Our “Green Islands” consist of a mixture of native perennials, aromatic herbs, and flowering ground covers—all carefully selected for their friendliness towards insects and suitability for the location.
Examples from the vegetation plan:
Structural perennials:
- Betonica officinalis (betony): Robust, hardy, valuable for bumblebees and butterflies.
- Allium schoenoprasum (chives): Attracts wild bees with its spherical flowers.
Accompanying perennials:
- Aster amellus (mountain aster): Late blooming, important food source in fall.
- Malva moschata ‘Alba’ (white musk mallow): Fragrant flowers for bees and butterflies.
- Linum perenne (perennial flax): Delicate blue flowers, drought-tolerant.
Ground cover:
- Origanum vulgare (oregano): A magnet for insects
- Thymus praecox (creeping thyme): Bee-friendly and hard-wearing.
- Veronica prostrata (prostrate speedwell): Early blooming, important for the insects early in the year.
- Allium tuberosum (garlic chives): Late blooming, also attracts moths.
This is how the planting went:
Project concept proposal
The Green Islands 2.0 project aims to enhance the ecological and social value of the sealed area in front of the MNL library on the Campus Poppelsdorf in Bonn. Planted seating areas will create green spaces that contribute to improving the microclimate and biodiversity, as well as the well-being and quality of life on campus.
The project aims to combine functionality and sustainability: plant boxes will be combined with benches to create outdoor learning and meeting spaces. Accompanying measures such as information signs and adoptions by student councils will also promote awareness of climate protection, biodiversity, and sustainable campus design.
The project is highly participatory. Students from various faculties, student councils, the Eco Department, and the Green Office are working together on the planning, implementation, and long-term maintenance of the islands. Ideas can be contributed and practical tasks taken on by all sides. This participation strengthens the sense of community and promotes a sense of responsibility.
The Green Office is responsible for organizing and coordinating the project. Green Islands 2.0 is not only a greening initiative, but also a living example of sustainability in action and successful student participation on campus.
You can find the full project concept proposal here:
You can find us here:
Green Office Uni Bonn
Dechenstraße 3-11
53115 Bonn