Places and Landscapes
Nature English: Gardens and Urban Nature
Talk about gardens, parks and the wildlife living in our towns.
Nature isn't only in the countryside. Gardens, balconies, parks and green roofs are home to bees, birds and even foxes. Learn how to talk about nature on your doorstep.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| green space | Grünfläche | The city needs more green spaces. |
| allotment | Schrebergarten, Kleingarten | My neighbour grows vegetables on his allotment. |
| lawn | Rasen | We stopped mowing part of the lawn. |
| to mow | mähen | He mows the lawn every Saturday. |
| hedge | Hecke | Birds nest in the hedge. |
| pollinator | Bestäuber | Bees and hoverflies are important pollinators. |
| wildflower meadow | Blumenwiese | We turned the lawn into a wildflower meadow. |
| bug hotel | Insektenhotel | The children built a bug hotel. |
| green roof | Gründach | Green roofs keep buildings cool in summer. |
| compost | Kompost | We put our vegetable peelings on the compost. |
Word Partners
Natural English depends on words that belong together. Learn these as complete phrases.
- to mow the lawn
- wildlife-friendly garden
- urban wildlife
- to attract bees
- raised bed
- bird feeder
- nest box
- gravel garden
"We put up a nest box, and blue tits moved in the same spring."
Useful Phrases
Sentence patterns you can use straight away.
In the garden
- We let part of the lawn grow wild.
- The bees love the lavender.
- We collect rainwater in a barrel.
- The tomatoes are ready to pick.
Nature in the city
- Foxes have moved into the city.
- The park is the green lung of the city.
- Green roofs help to cool the streets.
- Some towns no longer allow gravel gardens.
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Do you have a garden, a balcony or an allotment?
- What wildlife do you see in your town?
- Should gravel gardens be banned?
- How could your street become greener?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. What is "Schrebergarten" in English?
An allotment.
2. What do we call insects that carry pollen from flower to flower?
Pollinators.
3. What does "to mow the lawn" mean?
To cut the grass.
Explore More
Related topics on Talking English.
Talk about gardens and urban nature.
Learn the words, use them in real sentences and share what you notice with others.
Nature starts on your doorstep.