Volunteering at Lietzenseepark

Along the Banks of the Lietzensee

As a dedicated volunteer with the Going Native Garden Tour, it didn't take me too long to find a volunteer opportunity nearby while in Berlin. For the last 2 months, I've been pulling weeds and cleaning up in Lietzenseepark, a 10 minute bike ride from the apartment.

The lake, a remnant of the ice age, was bought (with the surrounding area) by General Witzleben in 1826 and converted to a popular park. However, after the general's death, the park was neglected and only in 1910 the town of Charlottenburg bought the land and had it converted to a "Landschaftspark", which means a park with natural characteristics rather than a park emphasizes symmetry and the man made. Edwin Barth, the director in charge of the conversion, added paths along the banks of the lake, planted many trees, and installed the cascade (which helps add oxygen to the lake water).

Lietzensee Cascade

As all cities in every country, Berlin has trouble finding money for everything in their budget, so the initially large staff of gardeners has shrunk, and the residents of the stately houses nearby have founded a non-profit, Buerger fuer den Lietzensee, which works on finding funds for needed repairs (for example, the rose and daylily beds have been replanted with the money and are beautiful indeed!).

More importantly, the residents are getting engaged in keeping the park clean and tidy. Because the park is now so beautiful, visitors are less likely to litter - and might even pick up that extra napkin, or clean up after their dog. 

Regular volunteer hours twice a week offer an opportunity to socialize, and, more importantly, to do weeding and clean-up. Tools, gloves, and aprons are available, and everyone can contribute according to their skills. Some strong guys will get a lot done with wheelbarrow and tools in just a few hours. 

Daylily Planting with Weeping Willow and Volunteer in Background

The rest of us often take on a weedy bed or sitting area, which we manage to transform from pretty weedy to spotless in the course of less than 2 hours. Some of us aren't so young, and one volunteer is smart enough to sit on a stool while working - and gets a lot done that way!

Volunteers at Lietzensee Park

I'm always impressed by tidy everything looks when my German housewife fellow volunteers are done with the job - I might leave a little weed or two here or there, but someone always catches it. And because the point is to show that this is a park, and not a wilderness, I don't mind pulling some plants that I might consider leaving in my own garden.

We leave with the happy feeling of a job well done, and having enjoyed the companionship of others who care about this beautiful natural area in the middle of the city. (Have a look at some of the photos on the Buerger fuer den Lietzensee website and be amazed...)