Heckenretter e.V.

The Heckenretter e.V. is a non-profit organization, founded in March 2020 by Alexandra Werdes. Our goal is to preserve, maintain, and create new traditional hedgerows in the Hamburg metropolitan region and beyond. These hedgerows are not only an essential habitat for insects, birds, and many other animals, but they also make an important contribution to climate protection through carbon sequestration.

Our main mission is to raise awareness of the importance of wild hedgerows among farmers and the public. These hedgerows, which have been part of the landscape in Schleswig-Holstein since the late 18th century, serve as living fences that protect fields from wind, drought, and wild animals. We support farmers in establishing and maintaining these hedgerows and enable companies to offset their CO2 emissions by funding hedgerow projects, which simultaneously enhances local biodiversity.

• Establishment and Maintenance of Wild Hedgerows: We plant wild hedgerows together with volunteers and take care of existing hedgerows to maintain their ecosystem function.
• Hedgerow Sponsorships: We offer companies and individuals the opportunity to take on hedgerow sponsorships to contribute to the preservation of these valuable habitats.
• Products from Wild Fruits: We harvest wild fruits such as rose hips, elderberries, or sloes and produce delicious, high-quality products like punch syrup to create regional value.
• Education and Community: We organize hedgerow discovery tours and planting actions that are accessible to people of all generations. Especially individuals with mental health challenges find a healing activity in nature with us.

• Climate Protection: By establishing and maintaining wild hedgerows, we contribute to long-term carbon sequestration, which enables significant greenhouse gas reductions according to a study by the Thünen Institute.
• Biodiversity: Our hedgerows provide food, breeding, and retreat spaces for over 7,000 species of insects and small animals throughout the year.
• Regional Value Creation: We promote the regional economy through the production of products from wild fruits, thereby creating sustainable funding for the protection of hedgerows.
• Cultural Heritage: The traditional care of hedgerows, known as "Knicken," was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage in 2023. We are committed to preserving these ancient practices.

Our association thrives on the active participation of our volunteers. Since our founding, numerous people have participated in our planting actions, contributing to the growth and maintenance of the hedgerows. We invite all interested individuals to join us and work together for the protection and care of these valuable habitats.

• 1 - https://heckenretter.org/ueber-uns/
• 2 - https://www.reflecta.network/organisationen/heckenretter-e-v
• 3 - https://taz.de/Naturschutz-mit-Wallhecken/!6007950/
• 4 - https://www.spenden-mit-impact.de/projekt/heckenretter/
• 5 - https://heckenretter.org