Peacock invasion in Norderstedt: allotment gardeners horrified by looting!
In Norderstedt, 28 peacocks are raiding allotments, causing damage and suggestions for capture. Insight into local challenges.

Peacock invasion in Norderstedt: allotment gardeners horrified by looting!
In Norderstedt, a very special spectacle is causing excitement in the allotment gardens - a real peacock invasion! The colorful birds diligently plunder the rows of vegetables in the Friedrichsgabe allotment garden association, which causes a lot of annoyance among the allotment gardeners. The allotment gardener Thomas Röper, who is not exactly happy about what is happening with his 28 peacocks in the garden at the same time, reports that the little animals are very hungry and do a lot of damage to plants. “There can be trouble,” says Röper, as he thinks about whether some of the peacocks should be captured.
The city of Norderstedt and the veterinary office are already involved to clarify the situation. The latter determined that these were wild animals without an owner. Meanwhile, the public order office sees no danger to people or traffic from the colorful animals, and there are no plans to relocate them. However, it is noticeable that the peacock population in the Garstedt district has grown significantly in a very short time, although previously there were only a few peacocks.
The allotment garden association in focus
The Friedrichsgabe allotment garden association is a typical example of what allotment gardens actually are. Here members cultivate their plots, which are usually fenced in. The requirements are clearly regulated, from hedge height to plantings, and the board ensures that everything runs according to the regulations of the Federal Allotment Garden Act. A place of relaxation and community, where tradition also plays a major role ortsdienst.de explained.
The importance of allotment gardens has increased in times of urban densification and the challenges of climate change. Many now see it as a “lifeline” in urban development that should provide access to nature. The corona crisis has once again emphasized the health benefits of green spaces, as well stadtundgruen.de reported. Allotment gardens not only offer a refuge for those seeking relaxation, but also contribute significantly to biodiversity in urban environments.
If the peacocks continue to make the gardens unsafe, the question arises as to whether and how the allotment gardeners will adapt. A uniform approach to the growing number of visitors, be they feathered or human, will probably be the order of the day. The challenges that the city of Norderstedt will have to overcome in the future will certainly also be influenced by the small gardens that are an important part of the urban landscape.