Naturgarten Schönegge: Moving in danger - residents fear chaos!

Naturgarten Schönegge: Moving in danger - residents fear chaos!

The Naturgarten Schönegge is faced with another setback in Viehhausen near Kranzberg. The third building application for the relocation of the popular natural garden was rejected, as the Süddeutsche Zeitung . The main reasons for the rejection are an unexplained access question. Residents from the neighboring towns fear an increase in traffic volume by the many visitors that would attract the natural garden.

The Naturgarten Schönegge has made a name for itself in the region through its social agriculture, organic vegetable and fruit growing as well as therapeutic riding. He also operates an integrative kindergarten and an outdoor class of Lebenshilfe Freising. Around 5.5 hectares of the areas are leased, while only about 1 hectare is owned by the Schönegge family, who recently bought a remote property in Kranzberg. Two thirds of the 18 hectares were also acquired by the Naturland cooperative.

The planned move and the citizens' initiative

The Schönegge family plans to move the natural garden to Viehhausen by the end of the year. The current building application provides for the establishment of a horse pension company with stables, riding hall and riding arena. Despite the fundamental approval of the district office, which was promised for the gardening company and the horse pension, the access of the access remains unclear. Suggestions of the Schönegge family to partially expand the access road were rejected by the municipality as inadequate, which triggered new discussions that led to the establishment of a citizens' initiative.

The focus is particularly on the fundraising festival, which took place in May and attracted 2,000 visitors to support the financing of the dismantling of the lease areas. The move and the reduction of the natural garden are intended for the coming August in the annual calendar.

horses and social projects in the natural garden

Another important part of the natural garden are the horses that are housed in a spacious open stable. This stable promotes the social contact of the animals and offers space for movement. Hay is available to horses around the clock, and in the summer months they have access to a paddock. Since 2013 there has also been a small riding arena that is used for training. The horses are described as individual personalities, which strengthens the bond between humans and animals, as on the website of Naturgarten

In addition, social projects are very important. Sophia Sedlmaier, the daughter of Erhard Schönegge and second chairman of the Verwärbnis Naturgarten e.V., emphasizes how the social field has developed in recent years. There has been a project with Lebenshilfe Freising since 2011, where around ten young people work with a handicap on the farm. A natural kindergarten, which was founded in 2016, is also very popular and is visited by about 55 children, as Wochblatt DLV

The current challenges show that there are still many hurdles to be overcome for the Schönegge family before the move of the natural garden is actually in dry cloths. The efforts around social agriculture and the important work with young people and children should continue to remain a major role in the spirit of the natural garden.