At the beginning of the year, we were very happy about the start of our first nature conservation project in Germany: since then, we have been supporting the renaturation of a biotope for native flora and fauna on the grounds of the German Primate Center in Göttingen.
The programme first included a lot of work with heavy equipment to loosen the soil and prepare the 1.4 hectare site, and to create 3 reptile castles among the meadow orchards and flowering shrubs. Under the stones, which were heaped up in sunny places, lizards and slow worms, among others, should find a shelter and nesting place.
Other animals can settle under various brushwood piles and wild bees and other insects are welcome in a specially created earth wall. Many nesting boxes and feeding stations have been set up throughout the biotope, which are gradually attracting new inhabitants and visitors.
In addition, large areas of flowering meadows have been sown to attract pollinating insects. At the moment, however, not many flowering plants can be seen due to the low rainfall, as the relatively hard, dry soil makes it difficult for them to grow. For our biotope, too, more rain would be very welcome for a change!
Here you can see some impressions from the area:
Nesting boxes and feeding stations on the trees 
The earth wall for wild bees and other insects 
Orchard meadow with reptile castle 
Reptile castle
Pond in a sheltered spot between the trees
Dredging the pond in spring 
Reddish colouring due to dyes of sunken leaves 
View of the pond and brushwood pile 
Tadpoles in the pond and small toads on the edge 
The little toads become active.
Garden dormouse house 
Dormouse house 
Squirrel feeding station 
Insect hotel 
Butterfly house 
Wooden concrete bird house 
Insect hotel 
Accommodation by the wayside
Colourful mix 
Bumblebee house
This branch broke off during a storm, but is still sprouting new green branches.
Path through the grounds 
Feeder for small birds 
Birdseed
Dry grassland in the west of the biotope area 
Scattered splashes of colour on the meadow