Of reptiles and piles of stones

Pupils design living spaces in the Hundig area

On September 13th and 14th, four classes from the Stadel School will gather in the idyllic expanse of the Hundig area in Glattfelden ZH to work in this special area. Their day begins with an introduction and a brief explanation of the tasks ahead. Stone piles are to be built to serve as shelter for reptiles. These stone piles will become part of a network corridor that allows the native lizards and smooth snakes to spread further and colonize more habitat. These "island biotopes" are of great importance for the animal world. The meaning and purpose of the work quickly becomes clear to the students. Highly motivated, they load stones, carry them to the islands in carts and kettles and carefully stack them.

But that's not all: They also set about removing prickly blackberries and other problem plants, clearing up rubbish and building wild bee nesting aids for ground-nesting wild bees. There is also plenty of fun. There are moments of hearty laughter and lively discussions. One particularly amusing question is whether snakes and other reptiles are even capable of "farting". This unusual debate not only makes the students smile, but also the leaders of the operation.

As an additional highlight, we have the honor of welcoming Peter Müller and Doris Weisshaupt from the Zurich Nature Conservation Department. Peters' passionate talk about the unique snail species in this area not only provides new insights, but also awakens a fascination for these small animals. Doris Weisshaupt, in turn, tells us what makes the Hundig area so special and what value it has for nature.

Arbeitseinsatz.ch and the Nature Conservation Department are grateful for the active commitment of the students at the Stadel School. Thanks to their help, the corridors between the habitats are being strengthened and the native flora and fauna can colonize new habitats. The participants made a valuable contribution to biodiversity and showed that a lot can be achieved together to preserve natural values.