Stadtwerke Witten has awarded our university garden 2nd place in the Witten Sustainability Prize! "The campus garden combines ecological and social ideas in an ideal way. It is not just a green space, but a lively place of social interaction and community life. Stadtwerke wants to honor and promote this with the award," says Mathias Kukla, jury member of the Stadtwerke sustainability award.

The award comes with prize money of 2,000 euros, which will go towards the further development of the garden and new biodiversity-promoting projects.

Experience sustainability in practice

For more than 30 years, the university garden has been a special place to learn, meet and retreat on campus. For many students, it is much more than just a green space: up to 60 students get involved in the garden every year as part of Studium fundamentale, planting, tending and creating sustainable living spaces together in the middle of everyday university life.

The garden combines ecological responsibility, community involvement and academic learning. With ponds, wild perennials and measures to protect insects, it creates valuable habitats for native plants and animals. At the same time, it offers space for exchange, recreation and practical experiences relating to sustainability.

Strengthening biodiversity on campus

Since summer 2025, a central area of the campus - the ecological triangle between the two ponds near the cafeteria and the wooded island opposite - has also been specifically developed into a biodiversity hotspot. The aim is to create stable and self-sustaining habitats in the long term.

The prize money supports this special learning and living space. Anyone wishing to provide additional support for the university garden can contribute to the sustainable development of the project with a donation.