The sun tickles the tip of your nose, its rays warming your bare feet on the folding chair. A light breeze carries the scent of fresh earth, lilac and elder. The soft hum of wild bees fills the air. A little piece of luck: your own balcony. It's perfect for taking a breather and relaxing - but it's not just us who benefit from the green space.

Around a third of all animal and plant species in Germany are endangered. Balconies and gardens are a potential habitat for many insects - our window boxes can easily help to preserve biodiversity.
It is often a case of give and take: the plants serve as a source of food. In return, insects help to transport pollen and are a meal for birds. It's a win-win situation - and we get to enjoy the colour too. Would you like to turn your balcony into an insect oasis? Here are a few tips that are easy to implement.

Tips for your window boxes:

The basic rule is: "Native - more of it, please"! Many highly cultivated flowers are not a good food source because they do not contain rich nectar. You can also look for the organic label when buying plants: Organic plants also stand for longevity and are usually more resistant to disease and pests. As well as plants, you can also check the potting soil. A zero percent peat content is particularly important. This is because peat extraction is associated with the loss of bogs - the habitat of many creatures.

Some plants are particularly fond of small animals. Butterflies, for example, love wildflowers, but they are also attractive to rare caterpillars. Wildflowers often come in handy seed packets. Climbing plants are also a good resting place; their flowers offer rich nectar to feast on.