Wild herb walk through Zurich

This article has been translated with AI.

On Saturday, June 8, 2024, 11 environmental alumni met for an exciting and informative wild herb walk. The walk took place in and around the Zurich Botanical Garden. Although the area, including the Seefeld, is very urban, it offers numerous habitats and niches where wild plants thrive

History of the Zurich Botanical Garden

The Zurich Botanical Garden has an interesting and eventful history: Between 1974 and 1976, the garden was rebuilt, with the gardens designed by Fred Eicher (1927-2010). In 1976/77, the show houses were erected as impressive geodesic domes. In order to meet the growing demands and preserve the plants, the show houses were extensively renovated between 2011 and 2013. In addition, the kitchen garden and medicinal plant garden were renovated in 2018/19 and a new adventure garden was created, offering visitors an interactive experience. ¹

Journey of discovery into the world of wild herbs, plants and trees

The day of our walk was beautiful and sunny, and we were a group of 11 people with different levels of knowledge about wild plants. During the walk, we learned how to identify the most important wild herbs. We were also taught how these herbs work and in which dishes or for what purpose they can be used. One example of our newly acquired knowledge is that robinia and yew leaves are poisonous, while wild garlic is edible all year round. We also learned that a tincture of St. John's wort can help against depression. We also learned that evening primrose oil helps against eczema and what the fairy tale of Mother Hulda has to do with elderflower trees.

Joscha Boner, our expedition guide, was able to give us a little insight into his extensive knowledge of plants and their backgrounds. He not only told us about the medicinal and culinary uses of wild herbs, but also about the cultural stories and myths surrounding these plants. His stories, which we could have listened to for hours, made the walk particularly lively and informative.

Delicious picnic

At the end of the walk, we had a delicious picnic made from our spoils. The picnic consisted of protein balls, a refreshing drink and a quark dip in which we mixed various wild herbs and flowers. Eating together was a wonderful opportunity to put our new knowledge into practice and enjoy the flavors of the herbs we had collected.

Review and outlook

We really enjoyed the wild herb walk and look forward to organizing events with Joscha again in the future. Overall, the day was not only educational, but also a wonderful opportunity to experience the beauty and diversity of nature in the middle of the city. The Zurich Botanical Garden provided the perfect backdrop for this excursion and we are grateful for the many impressions and insights we were able to take home with us.

References:
1: external page https://www.bg.uzh.ch/de/wir/geschichte.html

Photos:
Gwendolin Kummer
Chantal Weibel