Busy as the bees: Maintenance activities at Marchfeld's Blooming Landscapes

There are two reasons to be proud of the project's first sprouting plants: the autumn-planted flowering areas are thriving, and a newly formed nature conservation group has completed its first joint operations!

Mow to grow: First cut with our new bar mower – giving biodiversity a boost. © Lisa Steiner
In full bloom: Wildflower areas sown last year now thriving with life. © Lisa Steiner

 

The BESTbelt project BEE-BIO-NET aims to establish a long-term network of thriving habitats by increasing floral resources and encouraging community involvement. The region is part of the European Green Belt and is home to a unique population of wild bees in one of the country's most intensively farmed areas.

So far, the implementing team has sown hand-collected regional wildflower seeds and converted 19,200 m² into species-rich meadows. Additionally, they provided process support for the extension and management adaptation of municipal green spaces in municipality of Engelhartstetten. Workshops with a local secondary school and public lectures have helped to raise awareness and recruit volunteers. Recently, the team acquired a flail mower to maintain the flowering areas by removing the cuttings, and financed sheep grazing in an area through private donations. Volunteers of all ages gathered to jointly remove invasive species. This collective effort not only cleared non-native species, but also fostered community spirit.

Looking ahead, the project team is looking forward to the wildflower seeds workshop in September, where participants will learn about collecting wildflowers and how to support pollinators in home gardens. Through these ongoing activities, the project aims to ensure a flourishing environment for wild bees across the Marchfeld region.

The project BEE-BIO-NET is running from December 2023 to October 2025 and is implemented by the Bienenzentrum Wien. It is implemented as part of the EU-funded BESTbelt pilot project.

For more information, please contact: Lisa Steiner (Bienenzentrum Wien / Bee Center Vienna / BIEZEN): lisa(at)bienenzentrum.wien 

 

 

 

***Would you like to join in? The wildflower seed collection workshop on 6 September 2025 in Marchegg, Austria, is open to all. Please contact lisa(at)bienenzentrum.wien to register.***