The 40-hectare area on the banks of the Neckar River is transformed into a paradise of flowers and gardens. For six months, the Federal Garden Show, Bundesgartenschau (BuGa) in Heilbronn will delight visitors’ senses. Spectacular water shows are sure to astound, wine tastings will be delightful and the integrated city exhibition shows the innovative and sustainable city planning concept. In addition to an unforgettable entertainment programme, there will be a sensation at BuGa this year: a 600m long footbridge made of FSC-certified Bongossi wood. It is the first time that such a project has been FSC certified in Germany. As a central eye-catcher, it invites visitors to stroll on it and experience the flora and fauna along the banks of the Neckar.
The Bundesgartenschau (BuGa) is a federal garden show that takes place every two years since 1951 and this year 2.2 million visitors are expected.
In addition, there are state wide garden shows called Landesgartenschau that take place every year, and also the international garden exhibition that inspires visitors every ten years.
Within the framework of a Federal Horticultural Show, extensive open space planning and redesigning is taking place in the respective cities with high budgets to support the regional development goals.
The fact that the topic of sustainability is also becoming increasingly important at garden shows is demonstrated by the organizers’ efforts to produce the footbridge from FSC-certified tropical wood. Due to their natural resistance to weather influences and pests, tropical woods, including Bongossi, are ideally suited for the construction of hydraulic structures, mining, shipbuilding and garden furniture. Even without additional treatment, tropical wood is more resistant than conventional domestic or non-native tree species.
To meet sustainability requirements of tropical timber, consumers and builders should look for the FSC label when purchasing wood or wood products.
The FSC forestry certification confirms that the forest is managed in a way that preserves the natural ecosystem and benefits the lives of the local population and workers while maintaining economic viability. External experts regularly monitor compliance with the standard.
With an FSC project certification, companies can prove that a single construction project was carried out exclusively with FSC-certified wood. This is particularly useful if not all parties involved in the final stages of production and delivery of the project have FSC Chain of Custody certification.