Dresden / Freiberg (dpa / sn) - Three allotment garden associations from Saxony are among the 22 winners of this year's federal competition "Gardens in Urban Development". For special social, ecological and urban planning achievements, "Flora I" in Dresden and "Kultur" were each awarded gold and "Waldfrieden" in Freiberg (Central Saxony) was awarded silver in Berlin on Saturday, as the Federal Association of German Garden Friends announced at the end. The 25th edition of the competition has shown once again "that allotment gardens fulfill their purpose in densely populated cities as well as in rural areas," said President Dirk Sielmann. Many of the municipalities involved have recognized "that it is essential to promote and support allotment gardening in the current time of change".
The competition was established in 1951 and takes place every four years. It honors special urban planning, ecological, garden culture and social achievements with which allotment garden associations send positive impulses into the living environment beyond the borders of the garden. The association speaks of a kind of German championship of almost 13,500 allotment associations.
