Promoting biodiversity on Feihlerhöhe meadow orchard (since 2015)

Biodiversity is "a gmahte Wiesn"

The "Feihlerhöhe" is a natural jewel close to the town center, with a perfect view of Purkersdorf and the nature park. The Feihlerhöhe is a popular place for people looking for relaxation and it is a nature classroom for school children.

Restoration of an old meadow orchard

The Feihlerhöhe used to be old meadow orchard on a steep slope next to the town center, which - like many other green spaces in the greater Vienna region - was dedicated to a development zone and sold to a housing association in the 1970s. To avert the threat of destroying nature through construction, the municipal zoning was adjusted to designate the land as permament grassland in 1990 and finally purchased by the municipality in 2006. This enabled the meadow and viewpoint to be secured and restored.

Around 2010, the municipality of Purkersdorf has restored the meadow, which had become overgrown with shrubs, replanted old varieties of apple trees, and a direct path from the town centre through the meadow was created.

Importance of a meadow orchard

The trees in an orchard meadow provide an important habitat for many microorganisms. Grass that is not mowed for long periods promotes biodiversity and revitalises the green space. For example, insects use the long grass for laying eggs or foraging; wildflowers and herbs provide food for many insects. With over 5,000 different animal and plant species, meadow orchards are among the most species-rich habitats in Central Europe. Thus, they are essential for the preservation of biodiversity and the diversity of varieties in fruit growing..

The Nature Park promotes biodiversity in the town center

Although the Feihlerhöhe does not belong to the nature park proper, it is not far from the nature park entrance Kellerwiese and is serves as aa valuable addition to the nature park.

Since 2015, the meadow orchard has been managed by the nature park team in a near-natural way and is only mowed twice a year. 

To demonstrate the importance of the Feihlerhöhe for biodiversity in the town centre, the nature park has been organising a scythe mowing on two days at the end of May/beginning of June since many years. Usually one day is reserved for school classes, on the second day the public is invited to join in. On both days, one can learn the traditional scythe mowing technique under the guidance of a scythe master and also build "Heumandln" (haylofts). In addition, on both days nature park educators will provide an insight into the importance of forest edge meadows. In this way, we not only want to propagate a gentle mowing method, but also preserve a traditional cultural asset.

As the meadow orchard is also an important habitat for bees, there is a beehive of our nature park beekeeper. 

For several years, we have moved the cuttings from the Feihlerhöhe to the recently restored Schöffelstein meadow in the nature park so that the Feihlerhöhe biodiversity would be transferred to the forest meadow. As a result, columbine, small meadowsweet and broad-leaved pea thrive there alongside crested wheatgrass, swede clover and daisies.