German Housing Minister Verena Hubertz champions national de‑paving competition

A two‑part workshop organised by Agenda Hürth helped residents of Berrenrath replace a gravel‑stone garden with a diverse, insect‑friendly planting scheme. Participants removed the gravel, cleared underlying foil, added compost and selected perennials to ensure year‑round blooms and low maintenance, creating a habitat that supports pollinators.

Federal Minister for Housing, Urban Development and Building Verena Hubertz has taken patronage of “abpflastern”, a nationwide de‑paving competition that encourages municipalities, residents and organisations to replace paved surfaces with natural green spaces. The programme, linked to the federal “Green in the City” congress, aims to promote climate‑adapted urban design and community participation, with planned media outreach and a prize ceremony in the upcoming season.