Grambow, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
The municipality of Grambow is located ten kilometers from Schwerin, 90 kilometers from Hamburg, and less than 60 kilometers from the North Sea. The village of Grambow, which gives the municipality its name, was first documented around 1357. It has a very compact, centrally located settlement structure that has hardly changed since 1950 due to careful spatial planning. A jewel of the area is the Grambower Moor, now designated as a nature reserve, featuring two natural moor lakes and a high diversity of fauna and flora. Another historical feature of the village is the “Gut Grambow“, renowned beyond state borders, with its prestigious hunting school, extensive forest, and established quality gastronomy.
In the past five years, the previously stagnant and politically frustrated local community has experienced tremendous change. Emerging from a financially and administratively difficult situation, a timely “stroke of luck“ in 2019 – the victory in the state competition for the “most bee-friendly municipality in the state“ – led to a bright turnaround. During the first term of a newly elected mayor and municipal council, and through the strategically wise restructuring of the local club landscape, a rapid and multifaceted transformation took place. A newly motivated population, including the board of the beekeeping club, the farmers, engaged youth and seniors, has taken control, constantly coordinating with administrative levels, club leaders, the helpful forest management of Gut Grambow, and keeping the needs of all generations in mind.
With the creation of their “highlight,“ the multifunctional “Village Community Center“ in a now excellently functioning, intergenerational village center, the residents have access to a wide variety of offerings. The “Bee Agenda“ has gained full momentum, particularly through the new open-air museum with an exciting bee educational trail. The modernly designed moor educational trail with a moor museum also sparks great interest among both young and old. The cohesion of the local community and the positive experiences with the effects of self-initiatives were key to the visible “recovery“ of this now so inviting municipality.
To better address the concerns of the youngest citizens, a new political position was established in Grambow a few years ago: the office of Youth Mayor, which can be held from the age of 12 for a period of two years with the support of an accompanying adult. The main task of this appointed position is to responsibly and actively advocate for the agendas of children and young people, relay concerns to the adult mayor, help organize barbecues, bike trips, or similar activities, and coordinate assistance for the elderly, such as helping them with challenges in the digital world. This idea was introduced by the children and young people themselves into the village community, which is of immense value for intergenerational coexistence.
It is not only, but especially, the young and the elderly who were most affected by the unsatisfactory public transportation options. To address this issue, the “Our Grambow“ association developed the concept of a community bus: a former fire brigade team transporter provided by the municipality, with schedules developed according to demand and operated by volunteer drivers, now offers a legally operated mobility service under association law, with very moderate fare structures for the benefit of the public.
Two successful projects in the community of Grambow are focused on nature conservation and biodiversity: 120 bee colonies buzz around Grambow – and with good reason. Through the multi-faceted “Bee Agenda“ project, the population has been sensitized to be extremely bee-friendly. For example, a highly interesting open-air bee museum was established on a centrally located bee meadow, a bee educational trail was created and equipped with original and educational display cases, and knowledge on how to make a garden inviting for bees was shared. Remarkably, this successful bee project has been supported not only by the local beekeepers‘ association and the residents but also by the farmers. The tourist benefit is also significantly growing, especially through the official connection in 2023 to the nationally renowned “Bee Experience Trail“.
Awareness and sensitivity regarding the need to protect the “Grambower Moor“ and its biodiversity have also been addressed. Under the leadership of the eponymous association, peat extraction was halted, and efforts were made to restore and preserve this natural gem. A newly created educational trail leads along enchanting paths through the moorland, with regular guided tours offered. The “Moor Museum“, built at Gut Grambow, complements the nature trail and is very popular, especially in combination with the excellent “Schmiede 16“ restaurant located at the estate.
Evaluated: 2024
