Katharina Spannraft (right) from the LBV led through the biotope. © Michael Schönwälder
From a backfilled gravel pit to an ecological jewel: The Gräfelfinger Schneidergrube has developed into a showcase biotope in three decades. Now the Munich District Office hopes to be able to use it as a donor area for the district's new "NaturVielfalt" project.
Gräfelfing – The gem is well hidden behind a storage area of the Gräfelfinger building yard on Großhaderner Straße: The Schneidergrube, a "mosaic-like biotope that, thanks to its diverse structures, offers a habitat and food for many different species," says Katharina Spannraft from the Munich City/State district group of the State Association for the Protection of Birds (LBV). On Monday, it led Mayor Peter Köstler as well as members of the municipal council and administration on specially mowed walkways over species-rich grassland and semi-arid grasslands, past five spawning grounds. Susanne May and Benjamin Ungar, who are responsible for the new project "NaturVielfalt – Leben im Landkreis München" at the Munich District Office, were also part of the party. They have their eye on the tailor's pit, especially on the mown crop.
Mown crop for poorly developed areas
The district is investing three million euros by the end of 2028 to halt the decline in biodiversity. 75 percent of the project is funded by the federal government. "The focus is not on the particularly species-rich areas, but on the deficit areas, the so-called cold spots, should be deliberately used to improve biodiversity: on the one hand by connecting to the hotspots, and on the other hand by networking other areas with each other," says the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation.
"We want to work with as many stakeholders as possible and bring biodiversity into poorly developed areas," says May. And that's where the tailor's pit comes in. May and Ungar began recording donor areas at the beginning of the year. "Perhaps Gräfelfing can take on a pioneering role." In the case of the town hall representatives, May met with open ears on Monday. Mayor Köstler said: "Together we can achieve a lot." Building yard manager Christian Geier added: "I could well imagine something like this." He is already considering where areas in Gräfelfing could be upgraded with mown material from the Schneidergrube. When the LBV arrives this Saturday with volunteers to mow the biotope, it will still be too early for the "NaturVielfalt" project. May: "We don't yet have any areas where we can spread the mown material."
Tree frog belongs
At the beginning of the 1990s, committed Gräfelfinger conservationists began to develop the biotope in cooperation with the Lower Nature Conservation Authority, which is characterized by its nesting. The flower-rich semi-arid grassland provides food for wild bees and butterflies, while groups of bushes are a habitat for song thrushes and garden warblers. The strictly protected sand lizard has hiding places and egg-laying, newts, toads and frogs spawn in the waters. In April, the croaking of the tree frog, which is also strictly protected, was recorded in the Schneidergrube. "Finally again," says Spannraft.
In 2017, Joachim Schmidt-Sibeth from Gräfelfinger was awarded the environmental award of the district of Munich for his decades of commitment to the biotope. The LBV's biotope maintenance team had already supported him and his colleagues before, and since 2017 it has completely taken over the care of the Schneidergrube. This includes one or two cuts a year, the preservation of fallow land as a retreat for insects, marginal thinning of woody plants, water management, raking out old grass and the control of neophytes such as the annual fine jet, which is sometimes torn out individually so that it does not spread.
The fact that the Schneidergrube has five bodies of water is thanks to Schmidt-Sibeth, who, according to Spannraft, "has a special heart for amphibians". On the bank of a pond stands a chair on which he sat again and again over the years. Around 7000 euros costs the biotope maintenance annually. The municipality of Gräfelfing will pay 2500 euros.