Information board provides insights into the history of the stone path in Margareten

Information board provides insights into the history of the stone path in Margareten

There is a lot going on in the areas of history and nature in tranquil Vienna-Margareten. An impressive work of art in the peace and sensory garden at Siebenbrunnengasse 29 will soon be accompanied by a new information board. This plaque is intended to tell the exciting story of the unique stone path, which is around 70 meters long and was made of stones made from river sediments such as the Danube, Schwechat, Traisen and Mur. The stones, which lie in a snail-like arrangement, reflect the stages of human development - from relatively young rocks that are around a million years old to those that are several hundred million years old. The artistic implementation comes from Karin Moser, a research assistant at the University of Vienna, and the geology expert Godfrid Wessely, a former university professor. The motion to set up the information board was unanimously accepted by the Margareten Social Democrats and the People's Party, as meinbezirk.at reports.

Deputy district leader Christoph Lipinski from the SPÖ expressed his enthusiasm about the importance of the project. “It is important to make the history of the Stone Path more visible to citizens,” said Lipinski. So that not only the past leaves a lasting impression, but also the future is shaped sensibly.

The power of nature – garden therapy and its benefits

Speaking of the future: Nature plays an important role not only in the tranquility garden, but also in the care of people with dementia. In facilities like this Alte Stadtgärtnerei Senior Center, those affected learn to deal with their difficulties. The sensory garden there is a place where memories are awakened through touch, smell and sight. Master gardener Mirko Surburg designed this garden where activities such as planting and weeding can have not only joyful but also therapeutic effects. Activity in nature has proven to be beneficial for the quality of life of dementia patients, as the Carstens Foundation emphasizes.

Garden therapy is more than just a trend; it has long been recognized as an effective method in dementia care. Brain researchers show that contact with nature not only improves well-being, but also reduces depressive moods. Memories of previous gardening work are brought to life, communication between patients is promoted, and the sense of belonging in the community is strengthened.

Shared activities and memories

All of these positive effects are great, but how can these therapies be integrated even better into care? It is important that not only indoor spaces are used in care facilities, but also open spaces that are converted into therapy gardens. Thanks to targeted offers, patients can relax in the garden or work actively, which not only affects their mood, but also their overall quality of life. The combination of garden therapy with other therapeutic methods, such as exercise training, does not yet show all the advantages and potential that this type of therapy contains.

Vienna-Margareten, with its new stone path and therapeutic approaches, ensures that both history and the present remain alive and tangible. Actors in the neighborhood do their part to shape the cityscape not just as a collection of buildings, but as a living space for encounters and remembrance.