Herzberge Landscape Park

Landschaftspark Herzberge stretches across roughly 247 acres (100 hectares) around the Königin Elisabeth Herzberge hospital in Berlin's Lichtenberg district. The land was already used in the late 19th century for farming and grazing by a psychiatric institution. After reunification it sat unused for years, until in 2004 the district administration, together with an agricultural association, started developing it under the banner of urban agriculture. Most of the conversion work was finished by 2013, and since 2010 the area has officially carried the name Landschaftspark Herzberge.

The heart of the park is the sheep operation. Since the summer of 2009, around 50 ewes and their lambs of the old "Rauhwolliges Pommersches Landschaf" breed have grazed here each year on just under 50 acres of meadow. The animals maintain the landscape naturally and make the park especially popular with families and kids. Alongside them, a woodland biotope, small bodies of water and wetland areas linked by ditches shape the picture and provide habitat for amphibians. Since 2017 an urban farm on the grounds has also run an aquaponics facility combining fish farming with vegetable growing.

A network of shared bike and foot paths crosses the open landscape, ideal for long walks, running loops or bike rides well off the usual tourist trail. In spring 2019 the park was designated a protected landscape area, underlining its value as both recreation space and nature. One tip: to see the sheep, head for the grazing area, where the flock rotates between fields depending on the season. Sturdy shoes are worth it, since many paths are unpaved.