Allotment gardeners in Berg am Laim are fighting against vandalism and noise!

Allotment gardeners in Berg am Laim are fighting against vandalism and noise!

In Berg am Laim, a district of Munich, allotment gardeners are sounding the alarm. The Süd-Ost 1 allotment garden association is confronted with increasing vandalism and disturbing the peace. So they turned to the district committee for support. “There is something going on,” emphasizes Hermann Schlank, the second chairman of the association. Representatives from the building department, the police and social institutions such as AKIM and REGSAM met on site to address the problem and look for solutions together.

It was planned to have the parks supervision and a security service patrol more in the evenings in the future. The police also announced an increased presence. A place in the northern part of the complex, the so-called “drinkers' bench,” is particularly controversial. Loud parties with music and singing often took place here. “The situation could ease if the meeting point moved back towards the chapel,” said Schlank at the meeting. The bank will remain in place for now while an observation period is initiated.

Prevention and neighborhood help

Unfortunately, the problems that allotment gardeners have to contend with are not isolated cases. Vandalism in garden projects often occurs in vacant lots or public parks, often in deserted areas. This also illustrates the practical experiences of urban gardens, which are shared on the Urban Gardens website. Strategies are presented there on how to protect gardens from vandalism. A good neighborhood and the inviting design of the gardens can help them to be better accepted and used by the community.

The district committee is also discussing the possibility of building a public toilet facility in order to reduce litter in green spaces. “Even small measures can have a big impact,” says Fabian Ewald from the CSU. However, if further negative developments occur, the bench could also be removed, even if it is firmly anchored in the ground.

Measures against vandalism

There are various practical measures available to further combat vandalism. According to experts' recommendations, gardens in urban areas should be easily visible and accessible. Open passageways and the involvement of the neighborhood could promote acceptance and use. So-called “stepables,” plants that thrive under high-traffic use, could provide a vegetative barrier against unwanted activity, as explained in a Gardening Square study.

• Präsenz von Gärtnern und regelmäßige Nutzung der Gärten reduzieren Vandalismus.
• Das Anbringen von Schildern zur Aufklärung über den Garten verbessert das Bewusstsein.
• Einladende Gestaltung trägt zur Nachbarschaftsintegration bei.

As the situation in Berg am Laim shows, the exchange between the institutions, the gardeners and the community is of great importance. Concerns such as vandalism and disturbing the peace are challenges that can only be addressed collectively. Ewald is optimistic that the planned measures will get the problems under control. The future of the allotment garden association remains exciting, and it remains to be hoped that nature and togetherness there will soon find peace again.

Learn more here about the challenges in the allotment gardens and what steps are being taken to overcome them. Further information on tips against vandalism can be found here here. And look up too this page to learn how to protect your plants.