How many bees and butterflies can a patch of lawn between apartment blocks feed? The answer is: none – not until that lawn becomes something more. That is exactly why, on July 9 on Cmentarna Street in Zabrze, a new flower bed was created, one that will soon become a source of food for pollinators and a more colorful space for local residents.
The action took place as part of Green Pulse of Silesia – a long-term educational and ecological initiative run by the One More Tree Foundation and Stellantis Philanthropy in Poland, part of the global automotive group Stellantis.
A place people pass every day
The site on Cmentarna Street is no random patch of greenery, since it sits next to benches, tables, and a small playground, which means residents pass by it almost every day – on their way to the shop, to work, or while out walking with children.
It is precisely in spaces like this that urban greenery matters most, because it does more than beautify the surroundings; it becomes part of everyday life, a reminder that nature can exist right outside the front door, not only in parks or forests.
Why perennials instead of a lawn?
We planted hostas, spireas, feather reed grass, coneflowers, phlox, woolly sage, and obedient plant (false dragonhead) on the bed, choosing species that would bloom in succession from spring all the way through autumn. This means bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects can draw on nectar and pollen for many months, rather than only during the short flowering window of a single plant.
Some of the chosen species also come with extra benefits, as woolly sage’s intense scent helps limit the presence of certain pests, while the dry stems of ornamental grasses left standing over winter become shelter for many beneficial insects.
Perennials have another advantage over annuals – they return every year, which means the results of a single day of shared work will benefit both residents and pollinators for many seasons to come.
Working together for a shared good
We created the flower bed thanks to the involvement of volunteers from Forum Razem Centrum Wolontariatu in Zabrze and employees of Stellantis.
Planting came with its own challenges, since we ran into numerous roots in the soil that had to be removed by hand, though this did not stop the team from completing all the work efficiently. Shared commitment and a good atmosphere meant the site quickly began taking on an entirely new character.
A small change, a big effect
Until recently, this was just an ordinary lawn; soon, the flower bed will become a place full of blooms that draw bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects every day. For residents, it will also be a more colorful, welcoming space, showing that even small changes can genuinely improve quality of life and local biodiversity.
Thank you!
Thank you to the volunteers of Forum Razem Centrum Wolontariatu in Zabrze and the employees of Stellantis for coming together to create this green space. We also thank the program’s strategic partner – Stellantis Philanthropy in Poland – for supporting the activities carried out as part of Green Pulse of Silesia.
We hope that more and more places like this will appear on the map of Zabrze year after year, because every new flower bed is another step toward a city that is friendlier to both people and nature.
