Biodiversity Project in the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens

Presented by the Staatliche Schlösser und Gärten (DE)

The online event will take place on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. and is free of charge. The presentation will be held in German.

The event will be recorded.

Content

The presentation by Dr. Karin Seeber, garden conservator at the State Palaces and Gardens of Baden-Württemberg, is designed as a photographic stroll through the current outdoor exhibition in the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens. The exhibition offers insights into the grounds as a unique habitat. Through Sunday, November 1, guests will learn how climate change is being counteracted here to preserve the garden’s biodiversity and beauty.

About 80% of the plants in the Schwetzingen Palace Gardens are suffering from heat and drought stress. The outdoor exhibition uses 16 stations to demonstrate how biodiversity aids in climate adaptation. It also explains the causes and appropriate measures, such as new planting concepts, in-house propagation, and adapted maintenance management. Regional initiatives invite visitors to get involved. The exhibition is designed with sustainability in mind: using borrowed construction site materials and recycled banners.

A special highlight is “The [uncertain] Four Seasons.” Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” have been recomposed based on climate projections for Schwetzingen in the year 2050. A transformed future—featuring different bird species and extreme weather events—comes to life through music, with climate change captured in sound by the Baden-Württemberg State Youth Orchestra. Footage of the rehearsals and the performance can be seen and heard as part of the exhibition in the southern Zirkelbau—and in excerpts during the lecture.