New group of volunteer gardeners formed in Herzogenriedpark

Everyone is welcome to join in!

August, Thursday, a group of volunteers met for the first time to discuss their future gardening activities in Herzogenriedpark. From now on, the group will meet every Thursday from 1 pm to 3 pm to put their green fingers to work. Led by head gardener Timo Brendel, the first meeting took place in the rose beds. Next time, the group will choose a name and plan a new bed, which they will create together in late summer. Anyone who enjoys gardening is welcome to join in – the next meeting will be in the Rosarium again!

“A warm welcome to you as gardeners in Herzogenried Park” – with these words, Timo Brendel welcomed the new group of volunteers, who will now be lending a hand to the Herzogenried Park gardeners with various tasks. What might sound like work at first glance quickly turns out to be a win-win situation. After all, many people who live in the city do not have a garden of their own. Gardening, however, can be very beneficial and fulfilling, as it often provides a healthy counterbalance to our largely digital everyday lives. So both sides benefit from the concept behind the new “Herzogenriedpark Helpers” initiative: the professional gardeners receive support, and Mannheim residents with a passion for gardening have a place here to make a difference.

Several residents from Neckarstadt had turned up, as well as a lady from Oststadt, and even a father with his young son came along to practise his green fingers. Little Sami Henry, at just 16 months old, already showed a remarkable passion for roses; he lugged around garden waste bins, beamed as brightly as the sun, and was surprisingly relaxed for his age whilst his father pruned down a few rose bushes. It was a joy to see how much fun the little gardening helper was already having, carrying leaves about and running back and forth between the various helpers, whilst showing off his existing language skills. It quickly became clear that the group is well suited to fathers, mothers or grandparents with young children.

At the first meeting, Brendel began with a brief introduction to the history of the ‘Gardening Together’ group, which began 12 years ago in Luisenpark. Jürgen Wünnenberg, the former head gardener of Luisenpark, devised this innovative participatory gardening concept together with Helmut Groh, the former head of Mannheim’s municipal horticultural department, and it is still practised today. 
After the welcome, Brendel gave a brief crash course on roses, as the participants’ first hands-on experience was to take place in the rose garden. They learnt a great deal about the different varieties, their preferred growing conditions, growth habits and care. There were also some tips for growing roses on the balcony at home, such as the fact that roses prefer to be watered at the base of the plant. The participants were kitted out with rose gloves and secateurs, and off they went. The newly minted ‘gardeners’ were assisted by father and son Müller, both passionate gardeners at Herzogenriedpark. They showed the volunteers how to prune roses properly. A love of roses runs in the Müllers’ blood; the son has carried on his father’s work in the finest tradition. In short, these two rose experts have a love of roses in their blood, and the atmosphere at the first volunteers’ meet-up reflected this: very good, not to say truly rosy.

After a short break in the shade, during which Brendel shared some insights on weeds and how to deal with them, the head gardener presented the first group project: “What do you think about us planning and creating a new flowerbed together at the next meeting?” When this met with general approval, he promised to come up with a few creative ideas in the meantime and bring a plan to the next meeting for the group to discuss. Finally, Brendel expressed his satisfaction with the day: “Back in Luisenpark, we also started out with just five volunteers. We weren’t around for long, and today the group has grown to 35 volunteer gardeners – we can certainly manage that here too,” says Brendel in his usual rousing manner.

Herzogenriedpark Mannheim

Seeing, hearing, smelling, feeling

– the colors of nature, the singing of birds, the scent of flowers or the bark of ancient trees: a visit to Herzogenriedpark activates the senses, is a recreational and freshness cure for body, mind and soul at the same time, a place of pure relaxation in the middle of nature. On 365 days a year, around 500,000 visitors enjoy the park in Mannheim’s Neckar city, which stands for its pristine landscapes, countless opportunities for children and a unique range of open-air sports. On 365 days a year, Herzogenriedpark in the heart of Mannheim’s Neckarstadt district has a cozy spot for everyone on its 21 hectares. Whether in the traditional farmer’s garden, in the enchanted rose garden or along the many shady avenues of trees: the meaning of the word “deceleration” can be experienced here with all the senses.

Movement, relaxation, nature

From the sun terraces, you can enjoy a magnificent view of blossoming magnolias, cherry blossoms and lovingly planted flower hills. And what are the perfect ingredients for relaxation in the midst of nature? In addition to extensive, well-tended greenery, a park lake, a modern Kneipp pool and many fountains, our “freshness guarantors” for hot days! Mannheim’s sports park also scores points when it comes to exercise: From boules to basketball, table tennis, tennis, athletics with ash track and long jump facility, soccer field fitness equipment under the open sky and, new and cross-generational, the motor skills course leave nothing to be desired for athletes. Kids will get their money’s worth on an eleven-meter high climbing facility, at the spray guns, in the cave labyrinth or on the farm.

Please understand that due to our free-roaming animals, dogs, except guide dogs for the blind, and other pets are not allowed. Feeding the animals living in the parks is not allowed.

New opening hours

As of March 1, 2023, modified ticket office opening hours are in effect at Herzogenriedpark. The new hours have been adapted to the previous visitors usage behavior and apply to the entrances Main Entrance/Neuer Messplatz and Jakob-Trumpfheller-Strasse/corner Hochuferstraße. Both entrances are staffed cash desks at the times indicated. 

In March and October, the cash desk at the main entrance will open at 9 a.m. as usual, while the cash desk at Jacob-Trumpfheller-Strasse will now open one hour later at 10 a.m. Both cash desks will close half an hour earlier than usual. Both ticket offices will close half an hour earlier than before at 6 p.m. In April and September, the ticket office at both entrances will run uniformly from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. From May through August, both ticket offices will run uniformly from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. From November through February, the main ticket office at the new Messplatz opens at 9 a.m., while the ticket office at Jacob-Trumpfhellerstrasse does not open until 10 a.m. Box office closing time at both entrances is 4 p.m.

At the entrance near the GBG Hall and at the Herzogenried residential development, both fully automated entrances, the opening hours remain unchanged in all months. Visitors can only pass through these entrances with an annual pass or a ticket previously purchased elsewhere. With an annual pass, access is possible one hour earlier in the morning and one hour longer in the afternoon. Exit is possible at all times via the turnstiles!