Credit: Cactus / Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur
The Belle Etoile shopping centre in Bertrange is now hosting the exhibition Mir entdecken d’Blummewiss (We discover the flower meadow), the result of more than 30 years of collaboration between Cactus and the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur.
Through this free educational exhibition, which runs until Saturday 18 July, the Cactus and the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur invite visitors to discover the richness of Luxembourg’s flower meadows, as well as the full range of projects jointly developed by Cactus and the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur to raise public awareness of biodiversity conservation.
The exhibition places particular emphasis on Cactus Blummewiss, the most recent project resulting from this historic partnership, alongside Cactus Bësch, Cactus Bongert and Cactus Weier.
More than 30 years of shared commitment to nature
Since 1993, Cactus has actively supported the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur in its mission to protect nature in Luxembourg. Over the years, this partnership has gradually developed into a genuine long-term collaboration built around a shared objective: preserving Luxembourg’s natural environments while raising public awareness.
Today, this collaboration has enabled the development of four educational nature reserves representing four of Luxembourg’s emblematic ecosystems:
• Cactus Bësch, dedicated to forests;
• Cactus Bongert, dedicated to traditional orchards;
• Cactus Weier, dedicated to ponds and wetlands;
• Cactus Blummewiss, dedicated to flower meadows.
Beyond restoration work and the management of natural sites, the partnership places significant emphasis on awareness-raising, particularly through educational trails led by the Yuppi mascot and educational brochures aimed at families and schools.
Cactus emphasised that preserving biodiversity is a collective challenge, and by helping everyone better understand the ecosystems around us, it aims to encourage simple and practical actions in favour of nature.
Véronique Schmitt, Director of Marketing, Communication and CSR at Cactus, said: “Biodiversity is the foundation of our food, our agriculture and our quality of life. As a Luxembourg company committed to its local community, we have a responsibility to help preserve these natural resources on which we all depend. Together with the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur, we want to raise awareness among as many people as possible, because protecting nature begins with understanding it better.”
Cactus Blummewiss: preserving one of Europe’s most threatened habitats
Once widespread, species-rich flower meadows are now among Europe’s most threatened natural habitats. The intensification of agricultural practices, the abandonment of certain extensive farming activities and the gradual disappearance of natural landscape features have led to a significant decline in these exceptional environments. They can support up to 40 different plant species, as well as a particularly rich range of wildlife, including butterflies, bees, birds and numerous pollinating insects.
The Cactus Blummewiss project (2024–2028) aims to restore these habitats in western Oesling, between Doncols and Roodt/Ell, across the municipalities of Winseler, Lac de la Haute-Sûre, Boulaide and Rambrouch.
The Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur already owns 244 plots in the area, representing more than 77 hectares of meadows and pastures.
The project includes:
• the restoration and acquisition of new plots;
• the creation of a network of almost 5 hectares of flower meadows;
• the development of an educational trail around Surré, accessible to the public from mid-2027;
• the creation of a new educational brochure entitled “Den Yuppi entdeckt d’Blummewiss”.
Four projects, one shared objective
The exhibition also allows visitors to discover the four initiatives jointly developed by Cactus and the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur.
Cactus Bësch – Lieler: Located in the Schujansbusch nature reserve, this 5.5 km educational forest trail invites visitors to discover the essential role forests play in biodiversity, the climate and soil protection.
Cactus Bongert – Ettelbruck: This 3 km trail highlights Luxembourg’s traditional orchards and explains their importance for rural landscapes as well as for numerous animal and plant species.
Cactus Weier – Mensdorf: Stretching over 4 km, this route allows visitors to discover the Syre’s ponds and wetlands, which are home to remarkable biodiversity.
Cactus Blummewiss: The most recent project, it raises visitors’ awareness of the essential role of flower meadows, which provide vital refuges for pollinating insects that are indispensable to the functioning of ecosystems.
An exhibition to discover, understand and take action
Photographs, educational panels, interactive content and scientific information invite visitors to explore the diversity of Luxembourg’s natural environments and gain a better understanding of their role in maintaining environmental balance.
By bringing these four projects together in a single exhibition, Cactus said it is reaffirming its commitment to more sustainable development and continuing its efforts to raise awareness among as many people as possible about the richness of Luxembourg’s natural heritage.
Caption: (L-R) Cathy Leesch, Cactus S.A.; Karin Pütz, Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur; Frank Thielen, Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur; Véronique Schmitt, Cactus S.A.; Claude Meisch, Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur; Jim Schmitz, Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur
Credit: Cactus / Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur
