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Educational nature walk along the river Aa

Münster „Urban Ecology Educational Walk“

(North-Rhine Westphalia)

tools:

Fields of action:

[Environment]

Context

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Image: Skulptur

Photography: Oliver Niermann, BBR

The footpath along the river Aa had originally been established in 1950 to provide the citizens of Münster with a walk through nature within the inner city area, but was not very attractive at first. The insufficient appointment of the centrally located green area was caused by a lack of funds.

Project description

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Image: Informationstafeln des Lehrpfades

Photography: Oliver Niermann, BBR

As part of a gift from the state authorities occasioned by the city’s 1.200-year anniversary, the walk along the Aa river was redeveloped and partly redesigned. This included nature-compatible paving in some sections, a renewal of the water bound road surfaces, as well as safety and development measures.

Wherever the walk passes some particularly attractive parts of the town centre and old town, an ecological urban walk was installed. Location-related signage draws the visitor’s attention to unique features of the urban architecture and ecology such as (natural) monuments etc. An informative brochure containing more detailed information on individual stations was created to accompany the walk.

Project chronology

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Year	Event
1994	Start of the redevelopment and construction of the educational walk
1996	Conclusion of the measure
From 1997	Maintenance and preservation measures

Aims

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Image: Begrünter Fußweg

Photography: Oliver Niermann, BBR

Exemplary explanation of ecological relationships in the townscape
Presenting the town as a biosphere for human beings, animals and plants
Mediation of location-related information on the town’s history
Promoting understanding for a careful approach to nature
Offering an attractive, natural walk within the town centre

Types of measures

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Image: Informationstafel des Lehrpfades

Photography: Oliver Niermann, BBR

Paving and refurbishment of the walk’s surface
Planting measures
Development measures (stairs, wheelchair ramps)
Build-up of individual stations (information signs)
Creation of an information brochure

Innovations

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Image: Begrünter Fußweg am See

Photography: Oliver Niermann, BBR

The urban ecology educational walk runs through the entire inner city area. All along the walk, explanations repeatedly demonstrate the connections to the immediate environment and vividly describe issues from various disciplines which are of relevance to the town. In addition to this, the areas included in the walk along the Aa river possess a distinct open space quality.