Apple Day in Bad Homburg: Felix Haas wins bat box!

Apple Day in Bad Homburg: Felix Haas wins bat box!

An apple day full of joy and knowledge transfer recently took place at the Erlenbachhalle in Bad Homburg. The city invited everyone to get to know the diversity surrounding apples and the passionate efforts to care for the orchards. One of the highlights of the day was an entertaining competition in which visitors were able to estimate the number of acorns in a jar. With 39 participants, estimates ranged from 40 to 112 acorns, with the actual content being 84 acorns. Felix Haas from Ober-Erlenbach got the right idea with his estimate of 83 acorns and was pleased to receive a wooden bat box that was made in the Oberursel workshops for people with disabilities. Mayor Dr. Oliver Jedynak and ranger Boris Heinrich proudly presented the award to Felix Haas.

But Apple Day offered much more than just a competition. There were numerous stands presented by local associations. The NABU Ober-Erlenbach bird and nature conservation group, the Kirdorfer Feld interest group and the “Landschaftsschutz Platzenberg” association provided information about the care and preservation of orchards. The city of Bad Homburg, which received the award as “Orchard Community of the Year” in 2022, has been actively involved in preserving these valuable cultural landscapes for many years. A special highlight was the presentation of certificates by Rouven Kötter, the first deputy of the regional association, to Mayor Dr. Oliver Jedynak.

Diverse offers and enjoyment

Apple Day was not only informative, but also a pleasure for all the senses. There was freshly squeezed apple juice and apple secco, while visitors could fortify themselves with bratwursts, French fries as well as coffee and cake. Children were offered craft activities with natural materials and apple harvesting to produce their own apple juice. These activities impressively demonstrated how a cross-generational enthusiasm for nature and its products can arise.

There were also guided tours through the bird and insect-rich orchards at Wingert, which offered participants interesting insights into the local flora and fauna. Beekeeper Manfred Rubel explained the importance of beekeeping for nature and agriculture, which was particularly exciting for the younger visitors.

Focus on orchards

The orchard areas in Bad Homburg are not only ecologically valuable, but also contribute to local recreation. There are four such areas in the city: Am Wingert in Ober-Erlenbach, in Kirdorfer Feld, am Platzenberg and am Pilgerrain in Gonzenheim. These regions are an important part of Bad Homburg's cultural landscape and contribute to biodiversity. Apple Day is intended to underline the importance of these areas for the recreation of citizens and the preservation of the cultural landscape, which the city management also promotes with various measures and campaigns.

Overall, the apple day in Bad Homburg was a complete success and a step in the right direction to raise awareness of the historical and ecological values ​​of the orchards. The city shows that it has a good hand when it comes to reconciling tradition and environmental protection, which will certainly be no less exciting at future apple days. You can find more information about this in the reports Bad Homburg and Taunus news.