Krummer Weg 101, Erfurt-Bischleben-Stedten
Krummer Weg 101, 99094 Erfurt, Germany
NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm | Directions & Photos
The NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm is one of those places where city, nature, and education come together seamlessly. Located in Erfurt-Bischleben, on the edge of the Steigerwald, there is an extensive area that has been used as an urban environmental education facility since 1994 and continues to attract many people who want to experience nature not just visually, but with all their senses. The Fox Farm is not a noisy amusement park or a classic event venue, but an open learning and meeting space with a traditional orchard, bee pasture, eco-garden, ponds, willow dome, and hornbeam labyrinth. Those who come here find a mix of tranquility, participatory offerings, and a nature-oriented atmosphere, which is particularly suitable for families, kindergartens, primary schools, groups, and nature-interested individual visitors. The urban facility has also been awarded the Thuringian Quality Seal for Education for Sustainable Development as an extracurricular learning location and was recertified in 2021 for five years. Admission is free, making the Fox Farm particularly attractive for spontaneous visits. At the same time, the website with its offerings, impressions, and current news shows that this place is constantly being developed and offers new reasons to visit in every season. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Directions, Parking, and the Way to the Fox Farm
Anyone wishing to visit the Fox Farm should plan their journey carefully, as driving directly to the site is not intended. The city clearly points out that the forest paths may only be used with forestry permission, and instead recommends the public parking lot at the Waldhaus restaurant on Rhodaer Chaussee 12. From there, the last meters must be walked, which fits well with the location of the Fox Farm at the edge of the forest and emphasizes the nature-oriented character of the visit. The connection with public transport is also clearly described: With bus line 60, you can reach the Waldhaus stop about 0.8 kilometers away, from the Rhodaer Chaussee stop it is about 1.5 kilometers, and with tram line 6 from the Steigerstraße stop via the Stern, it is about 3 kilometers on foot. The association adds these notes with the clear statement that access by car is not possible and that the way can also be traveled by bicycle or on foot. For special events, such as nature birthdays, only one transport vehicle per group is exceptionally allowed. These rules are not meant as a hurdle, but as protection for the forest, paths, and the quiet atmosphere of the place. Especially because the Fox Farm is located in the Steiger, the nature experience begins on the way there: Those arriving on foot perceive the transition from urban everyday life to the green surroundings more consciously, and this deceleration is part of the overall concept of the facility. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Opening Hours, Admission, and Visitor Rules
The Fox Farm is generally well accessible, but it is not a place without rules. According to the visitor regulations, the facility is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00, and from April to October additionally on Saturdays and Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00, except on public holidays. Special events may extend or shorten the times. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. This makes the Fox Farm a low-threshold excursion destination, where spontaneous visits are just as possible as planned programs with groups. At the same time, the area is organized as a nature educational institution, which is why certain behavioral rules apply. Animals are generally not allowed, except for assistance animals. The path boundaries should not be exceeded, and the eco-garden is reserved for nature educational projects and gardening tours. Fruits and vegetables are display objects and are not intended for self-service. The staff does not assume any supervisory responsibility, which is why children and adolescents must be accompanied by teachers, group leaders, or legal guardians. There are also notes regarding photography and filming: A written permission is required for commercial purposes and in the context of current reporting. All these rules show that while the Fox Farm is open and friendly, it also wishes to be treated with respect for plants, animals, visitors, and educational work. This is a significant part of its character: nature is not only shown here but is jointly responsible as a space worth protecting. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Offers, Workshops, and Events
The Fox Farm is much more than a beautiful garden for walking. The facility's flyer shows a whole range of participatory formats designed for different age groups and interests. These include tree climbing, a forest walk through the Steiger, nature education with movement and guessing games, search tasks, and creative offerings, a woodworking shop, geo-caching as a digital treasure hunt, nature-oriented gardening, the bee workshop, and a rope garden. Many of these formats combine nature experience with movement, craftsmanship, and knowledge about ecological relationships. The area itself supports this diversity with places like the hornbeam labyrinth, willow dome, herb spiral, clay oven, campfire site, weather station, barefoot path, greenhouse, and stage. The city also describes the Fox Farm as a place for nature-oriented workshops, seminars, and celebrations, while the support association speaks of a constantly changing program of new and proven actions. The event calendar also shows that the Fox Farm is very lively seasonally: Currently, there are permaculture workshops, an open gardens day with Talking Wood, and a fruit tree pruning course. Previous and current announcements also mention holiday offerings for children, open garden days, and nature festivals. This makes the Fox Farm a place where learning, participation, and celebration intertwine. So, anyone planning an excursion gets not only a beautiful area but a real experience world with educational aspirations and tangible practical relevance. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/leben/oekologie_und_umwelt/naturschutz/flyer_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Nature Birthdays, Celebrations, and Bookings
A special reason to visit the Fox Farm is nature birthdays and small celebrations. The support association describes the Fox Farm as a learning and meeting place that is also suitable for birthdays or other events with small and large guests. For celebrations outside of opening hours, clear conditions apply: The minimum usage is four hours, the supervision fee is 14.00 euros per hour, a treasure hunt or research tour costs 2.50 euros per child, the pizza oven, campfire, or grill each cost an additional 10.00 euros, the rental flat rate is 7.00 euros, and the usage fee for the area is 0.50 euros per participant. Usage is also possible during opening hours; then one contacts the municipal staff. The association also emphasizes that currently, due to the small support team, not many nature birthdays can be covered, but inquiries are still welcome. Practically important is also the equipment: The house has a kitchen with cooking facilities, dishes, and cutlery, toilets are available, but the water is not drinking water, so personal drinking water should be brought along. For the fire pit, pizza oven, and grill, it should also be noted that usage may depend on weather and forest fire levels. Anyone planning a celebration must also know that the Fox Farm can only be used outside of opening hours with supervision by a club member. This creates a coherent picture: The Fox Farm is not just any event hall, but a nature-oriented place where celebrations are intentionally connected with environmental education, proximity to the forest, and simple, practical infrastructure. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
Learning Place Nature, BNE, and Ecological Particularities
The Fox Farm is not only a beautiful place to stay in Erfurt but also a fixed entity in environmental education. On the city’s website, it is described as a learning place with high demand; it mentions around 15,000 visitors per year. The facility at the edge of the forest has been operated by the city of Erfurt since 1994, and its main target group is kindergartens and primary schools, although there are also offerings for higher grades, vocational schools, students, and adults. A nature educator and a nature educator, as well as staff in the Voluntary Ecological Year and the Federal Volunteer Service, carry the offerings. Thematically, it is about education for sustainable development, addressing questions such as sustainable economics, justice, resource distribution, renewable resources, biodiversity, and climate and environmental protection. These topics are not treated abstractly but are made tangible through playful and practical experiences with all senses. Particularly interesting is the ecological design of the area itself: In August 2024, the Fox Farm received the Wild Islands plaque from NABU Thuringia. At that time, the city described that the maintained wilderness on the over one-hectare area has long been the management concept, while paths, experience meadows, and eco-gardens are regularly maintained, and the rest largely remains undisturbed. This approach makes the place so educational: It shows that biodiversity does not arise from sterile lawns, but from structure, diversity, and consciously left spaces. The award as a project of the UN Decade in 2014, the Thuringian BNE seal from 2018, and the recertification in 2021 fit into this picture of an institution that not only presents nature but also translates sustainable thinking into learning processes permanently. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
Photos, Impressions, and What Visitors See at the Fox Farm
Those looking for Fox Farm photos quickly come across exactly what makes the place visually memorable: no smooth event backdrop, but a vibrant natural area with many small stations. The city’s image gallery shows, among other things, the main building, the beekeeping area, the woodworking shop with hand drills and wooden foxes, the forest rally, the fox as a mascot, a playground with wooden fox sculptures, green play corners, a wooden sculpture in snake form, green spaces with fruit trees, herb plants, wall lizards, and a winter shot of the Fox Farm. The 2024 published contribution on the Wild Islands also provides good impressions: There, among other things, the experience meadow, the view towards the eco-garden, and the bee pasture with bee colonies can be seen. These images fit well with the factual information on the website, as they show how diverse the facility is structured. Photos convey not only atmosphere but also orientation: Visitors recognize the mix of construction trailers, workshops, gardens, natural play areas, and open spaces. At the same time, the images explain why the Fox Farm works so well for families and school groups. Children see animals, wood, meadows, gardens, and simple learning places; adults see a consciously designed landscape where nature does not appear decorative but serves as a learning and experience space. So, anyone wanting to gather impressions in advance gets a clear picture on the official pages: The Fox Farm is friendly, green, handcrafted, nature-oriented, and at the same time diverse enough to discover new details with every visit. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
History, Association, and Current Dates
The history of the Fox Farm includes not only the municipal sponsorship but also the commitment of the support association. The Erfurt Fox Farm e.V. describes itself as the support association of the NaturExperienceGarden and emphasizes that it has been supporting, enriching, and networking the municipal facility since 2004. According to the association's page, it was thanks to the association's commitment in 2011 that the closure of the Fox Farm could be averted. The association today primarily organizes environmental education projects and focuses on education for sustainable development, nature experience, and ecological relationships. At the same time, the current website shows that the Fox Farm is not a stagnant project. It mentions new formats as well as proven actions, and the calendar already includes dates for 2026 such as permaculture workshops, open gardens day, and fruit tree pruning courses. New educational offerings are also emerging on the municipal side: In 2025, it was reported that the Fox Farm expanded its offerings for primary schools and is launching new programs for grades 1 to 4. Additionally, recurring events such as the Nature Festival in the Green, which takes place on World Children's Day at the Fox Farm, attract families with music, magic, fairy tales, campfires, and participatory activities. This combination of tradition, voluntary support, and constantly updated offerings makes the Fox Farm particularly credible as a regional learning and experience place. It is not a static showcase but a place where environmental education, community, commitment, and nature experience continuously reconnect. That is why it remains a familiar yet always surprising point of contact for many people in Erfurt. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
Sources:
- Erfurt.de - NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Educational Institution Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Visitor and User Regulations Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - News and Association ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - Nature Birthdays ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
- Erfurt.de - Wild Islands and Current Events ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/service/aktuelles/pm/2024/148662.html))
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NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm | Directions & Photos
The NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm is one of those places where city, nature, and education come together seamlessly. Located in Erfurt-Bischleben, on the edge of the Steigerwald, there is an extensive area that has been used as an urban environmental education facility since 1994 and continues to attract many people who want to experience nature not just visually, but with all their senses. The Fox Farm is not a noisy amusement park or a classic event venue, but an open learning and meeting space with a traditional orchard, bee pasture, eco-garden, ponds, willow dome, and hornbeam labyrinth. Those who come here find a mix of tranquility, participatory offerings, and a nature-oriented atmosphere, which is particularly suitable for families, kindergartens, primary schools, groups, and nature-interested individual visitors. The urban facility has also been awarded the Thuringian Quality Seal for Education for Sustainable Development as an extracurricular learning location and was recertified in 2021 for five years. Admission is free, making the Fox Farm particularly attractive for spontaneous visits. At the same time, the website with its offerings, impressions, and current news shows that this place is constantly being developed and offers new reasons to visit in every season. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Directions, Parking, and the Way to the Fox Farm
Anyone wishing to visit the Fox Farm should plan their journey carefully, as driving directly to the site is not intended. The city clearly points out that the forest paths may only be used with forestry permission, and instead recommends the public parking lot at the Waldhaus restaurant on Rhodaer Chaussee 12. From there, the last meters must be walked, which fits well with the location of the Fox Farm at the edge of the forest and emphasizes the nature-oriented character of the visit. The connection with public transport is also clearly described: With bus line 60, you can reach the Waldhaus stop about 0.8 kilometers away, from the Rhodaer Chaussee stop it is about 1.5 kilometers, and with tram line 6 from the Steigerstraße stop via the Stern, it is about 3 kilometers on foot. The association adds these notes with the clear statement that access by car is not possible and that the way can also be traveled by bicycle or on foot. For special events, such as nature birthdays, only one transport vehicle per group is exceptionally allowed. These rules are not meant as a hurdle, but as protection for the forest, paths, and the quiet atmosphere of the place. Especially because the Fox Farm is located in the Steiger, the nature experience begins on the way there: Those arriving on foot perceive the transition from urban everyday life to the green surroundings more consciously, and this deceleration is part of the overall concept of the facility. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Opening Hours, Admission, and Visitor Rules
The Fox Farm is generally well accessible, but it is not a place without rules. According to the visitor regulations, the facility is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00, and from April to October additionally on Saturdays and Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00, except on public holidays. Special events may extend or shorten the times. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. This makes the Fox Farm a low-threshold excursion destination, where spontaneous visits are just as possible as planned programs with groups. At the same time, the area is organized as a nature educational institution, which is why certain behavioral rules apply. Animals are generally not allowed, except for assistance animals. The path boundaries should not be exceeded, and the eco-garden is reserved for nature educational projects and gardening tours. Fruits and vegetables are display objects and are not intended for self-service. The staff does not assume any supervisory responsibility, which is why children and adolescents must be accompanied by teachers, group leaders, or legal guardians. There are also notes regarding photography and filming: A written permission is required for commercial purposes and in the context of current reporting. All these rules show that while the Fox Farm is open and friendly, it also wishes to be treated with respect for plants, animals, visitors, and educational work. This is a significant part of its character: nature is not only shown here but is jointly responsible as a space worth protecting. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Offers, Workshops, and Events
The Fox Farm is much more than a beautiful garden for walking. The facility's flyer shows a whole range of participatory formats designed for different age groups and interests. These include tree climbing, a forest walk through the Steiger, nature education with movement and guessing games, search tasks, and creative offerings, a woodworking shop, geo-caching as a digital treasure hunt, nature-oriented gardening, the bee workshop, and a rope garden. Many of these formats combine nature experience with movement, craftsmanship, and knowledge about ecological relationships. The area itself supports this diversity with places like the hornbeam labyrinth, willow dome, herb spiral, clay oven, campfire site, weather station, barefoot path, greenhouse, and stage. The city also describes the Fox Farm as a place for nature-oriented workshops, seminars, and celebrations, while the support association speaks of a constantly changing program of new and proven actions. The event calendar also shows that the Fox Farm is very lively seasonally: Currently, there are permaculture workshops, an open gardens day with Talking Wood, and a fruit tree pruning course. Previous and current announcements also mention holiday offerings for children, open garden days, and nature festivals. This makes the Fox Farm a place where learning, participation, and celebration intertwine. So, anyone planning an excursion gets not only a beautiful area but a real experience world with educational aspirations and tangible practical relevance. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/leben/oekologie_und_umwelt/naturschutz/flyer_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Nature Birthdays, Celebrations, and Bookings
A special reason to visit the Fox Farm is nature birthdays and small celebrations. The support association describes the Fox Farm as a learning and meeting place that is also suitable for birthdays or other events with small and large guests. For celebrations outside of opening hours, clear conditions apply: The minimum usage is four hours, the supervision fee is 14.00 euros per hour, a treasure hunt or research tour costs 2.50 euros per child, the pizza oven, campfire, or grill each cost an additional 10.00 euros, the rental flat rate is 7.00 euros, and the usage fee for the area is 0.50 euros per participant. Usage is also possible during opening hours; then one contacts the municipal staff. The association also emphasizes that currently, due to the small support team, not many nature birthdays can be covered, but inquiries are still welcome. Practically important is also the equipment: The house has a kitchen with cooking facilities, dishes, and cutlery, toilets are available, but the water is not drinking water, so personal drinking water should be brought along. For the fire pit, pizza oven, and grill, it should also be noted that usage may depend on weather and forest fire levels. Anyone planning a celebration must also know that the Fox Farm can only be used outside of opening hours with supervision by a club member. This creates a coherent picture: The Fox Farm is not just any event hall, but a nature-oriented place where celebrations are intentionally connected with environmental education, proximity to the forest, and simple, practical infrastructure. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
Learning Place Nature, BNE, and Ecological Particularities
The Fox Farm is not only a beautiful place to stay in Erfurt but also a fixed entity in environmental education. On the city’s website, it is described as a learning place with high demand; it mentions around 15,000 visitors per year. The facility at the edge of the forest has been operated by the city of Erfurt since 1994, and its main target group is kindergartens and primary schools, although there are also offerings for higher grades, vocational schools, students, and adults. A nature educator and a nature educator, as well as staff in the Voluntary Ecological Year and the Federal Volunteer Service, carry the offerings. Thematically, it is about education for sustainable development, addressing questions such as sustainable economics, justice, resource distribution, renewable resources, biodiversity, and climate and environmental protection. These topics are not treated abstractly but are made tangible through playful and practical experiences with all senses. Particularly interesting is the ecological design of the area itself: In August 2024, the Fox Farm received the Wild Islands plaque from NABU Thuringia. At that time, the city described that the maintained wilderness on the over one-hectare area has long been the management concept, while paths, experience meadows, and eco-gardens are regularly maintained, and the rest largely remains undisturbed. This approach makes the place so educational: It shows that biodiversity does not arise from sterile lawns, but from structure, diversity, and consciously left spaces. The award as a project of the UN Decade in 2014, the Thuringian BNE seal from 2018, and the recertification in 2021 fit into this picture of an institution that not only presents nature but also translates sustainable thinking into learning processes permanently. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
Photos, Impressions, and What Visitors See at the Fox Farm
Those looking for Fox Farm photos quickly come across exactly what makes the place visually memorable: no smooth event backdrop, but a vibrant natural area with many small stations. The city’s image gallery shows, among other things, the main building, the beekeeping area, the woodworking shop with hand drills and wooden foxes, the forest rally, the fox as a mascot, a playground with wooden fox sculptures, green play corners, a wooden sculpture in snake form, green spaces with fruit trees, herb plants, wall lizards, and a winter shot of the Fox Farm. The 2024 published contribution on the Wild Islands also provides good impressions: There, among other things, the experience meadow, the view towards the eco-garden, and the bee pasture with bee colonies can be seen. These images fit well with the factual information on the website, as they show how diverse the facility is structured. Photos convey not only atmosphere but also orientation: Visitors recognize the mix of construction trailers, workshops, gardens, natural play areas, and open spaces. At the same time, the images explain why the Fox Farm works so well for families and school groups. Children see animals, wood, meadows, gardens, and simple learning places; adults see a consciously designed landscape where nature does not appear decorative but serves as a learning and experience space. So, anyone wanting to gather impressions in advance gets a clear picture on the official pages: The Fox Farm is friendly, green, handcrafted, nature-oriented, and at the same time diverse enough to discover new details with every visit. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
History, Association, and Current Dates
The history of the Fox Farm includes not only the municipal sponsorship but also the commitment of the support association. The Erfurt Fox Farm e.V. describes itself as the support association of the NaturExperienceGarden and emphasizes that it has been supporting, enriching, and networking the municipal facility since 2004. According to the association's page, it was thanks to the association's commitment in 2011 that the closure of the Fox Farm could be averted. The association today primarily organizes environmental education projects and focuses on education for sustainable development, nature experience, and ecological relationships. At the same time, the current website shows that the Fox Farm is not a stagnant project. It mentions new formats as well as proven actions, and the calendar already includes dates for 2026 such as permaculture workshops, open gardens day, and fruit tree pruning courses. New educational offerings are also emerging on the municipal side: In 2025, it was reported that the Fox Farm expanded its offerings for primary schools and is launching new programs for grades 1 to 4. Additionally, recurring events such as the Nature Festival in the Green, which takes place on World Children's Day at the Fox Farm, attract families with music, magic, fairy tales, campfires, and participatory activities. This combination of tradition, voluntary support, and constantly updated offerings makes the Fox Farm particularly credible as a regional learning and experience place. It is not a static showcase but a place where environmental education, community, commitment, and nature experience continuously reconnect. That is why it remains a familiar yet always surprising point of contact for many people in Erfurt. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
Sources:
- Erfurt.de - NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Educational Institution Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Visitor and User Regulations Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - News and Association ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - Nature Birthdays ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
- Erfurt.de - Wild Islands and Current Events ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/service/aktuelles/pm/2024/148662.html))
NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm | Directions & Photos
The NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm is one of those places where city, nature, and education come together seamlessly. Located in Erfurt-Bischleben, on the edge of the Steigerwald, there is an extensive area that has been used as an urban environmental education facility since 1994 and continues to attract many people who want to experience nature not just visually, but with all their senses. The Fox Farm is not a noisy amusement park or a classic event venue, but an open learning and meeting space with a traditional orchard, bee pasture, eco-garden, ponds, willow dome, and hornbeam labyrinth. Those who come here find a mix of tranquility, participatory offerings, and a nature-oriented atmosphere, which is particularly suitable for families, kindergartens, primary schools, groups, and nature-interested individual visitors. The urban facility has also been awarded the Thuringian Quality Seal for Education for Sustainable Development as an extracurricular learning location and was recertified in 2021 for five years. Admission is free, making the Fox Farm particularly attractive for spontaneous visits. At the same time, the website with its offerings, impressions, and current news shows that this place is constantly being developed and offers new reasons to visit in every season. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Directions, Parking, and the Way to the Fox Farm
Anyone wishing to visit the Fox Farm should plan their journey carefully, as driving directly to the site is not intended. The city clearly points out that the forest paths may only be used with forestry permission, and instead recommends the public parking lot at the Waldhaus restaurant on Rhodaer Chaussee 12. From there, the last meters must be walked, which fits well with the location of the Fox Farm at the edge of the forest and emphasizes the nature-oriented character of the visit. The connection with public transport is also clearly described: With bus line 60, you can reach the Waldhaus stop about 0.8 kilometers away, from the Rhodaer Chaussee stop it is about 1.5 kilometers, and with tram line 6 from the Steigerstraße stop via the Stern, it is about 3 kilometers on foot. The association adds these notes with the clear statement that access by car is not possible and that the way can also be traveled by bicycle or on foot. For special events, such as nature birthdays, only one transport vehicle per group is exceptionally allowed. These rules are not meant as a hurdle, but as protection for the forest, paths, and the quiet atmosphere of the place. Especially because the Fox Farm is located in the Steiger, the nature experience begins on the way there: Those arriving on foot perceive the transition from urban everyday life to the green surroundings more consciously, and this deceleration is part of the overall concept of the facility. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
Opening Hours, Admission, and Visitor Rules
The Fox Farm is generally well accessible, but it is not a place without rules. According to the visitor regulations, the facility is open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 16:00, and from April to October additionally on Saturdays and Sundays from 14:00 to 16:00, except on public holidays. Special events may extend or shorten the times. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. This makes the Fox Farm a low-threshold excursion destination, where spontaneous visits are just as possible as planned programs with groups. At the same time, the area is organized as a nature educational institution, which is why certain behavioral rules apply. Animals are generally not allowed, except for assistance animals. The path boundaries should not be exceeded, and the eco-garden is reserved for nature educational projects and gardening tours. Fruits and vegetables are display objects and are not intended for self-service. The staff does not assume any supervisory responsibility, which is why children and adolescents must be accompanied by teachers, group leaders, or legal guardians. There are also notes regarding photography and filming: A written permission is required for commercial purposes and in the context of current reporting. All these rules show that while the Fox Farm is open and friendly, it also wishes to be treated with respect for plants, animals, visitors, and educational work. This is a significant part of its character: nature is not only shown here but is jointly responsible as a space worth protecting. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Offers, Workshops, and Events
The Fox Farm is much more than a beautiful garden for walking. The facility's flyer shows a whole range of participatory formats designed for different age groups and interests. These include tree climbing, a forest walk through the Steiger, nature education with movement and guessing games, search tasks, and creative offerings, a woodworking shop, geo-caching as a digital treasure hunt, nature-oriented gardening, the bee workshop, and a rope garden. Many of these formats combine nature experience with movement, craftsmanship, and knowledge about ecological relationships. The area itself supports this diversity with places like the hornbeam labyrinth, willow dome, herb spiral, clay oven, campfire site, weather station, barefoot path, greenhouse, and stage. The city also describes the Fox Farm as a place for nature-oriented workshops, seminars, and celebrations, while the support association speaks of a constantly changing program of new and proven actions. The event calendar also shows that the Fox Farm is very lively seasonally: Currently, there are permaculture workshops, an open gardens day with Talking Wood, and a fruit tree pruning course. Previous and current announcements also mention holiday offerings for children, open garden days, and nature festivals. This makes the Fox Farm a place where learning, participation, and celebration intertwine. So, anyone planning an excursion gets not only a beautiful area but a real experience world with educational aspirations and tangible practical relevance. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/leben/oekologie_und_umwelt/naturschutz/flyer_fuchsfarm.pdf))
Nature Birthdays, Celebrations, and Bookings
A special reason to visit the Fox Farm is nature birthdays and small celebrations. The support association describes the Fox Farm as a learning and meeting place that is also suitable for birthdays or other events with small and large guests. For celebrations outside of opening hours, clear conditions apply: The minimum usage is four hours, the supervision fee is 14.00 euros per hour, a treasure hunt or research tour costs 2.50 euros per child, the pizza oven, campfire, or grill each cost an additional 10.00 euros, the rental flat rate is 7.00 euros, and the usage fee for the area is 0.50 euros per participant. Usage is also possible during opening hours; then one contacts the municipal staff. The association also emphasizes that currently, due to the small support team, not many nature birthdays can be covered, but inquiries are still welcome. Practically important is also the equipment: The house has a kitchen with cooking facilities, dishes, and cutlery, toilets are available, but the water is not drinking water, so personal drinking water should be brought along. For the fire pit, pizza oven, and grill, it should also be noted that usage may depend on weather and forest fire levels. Anyone planning a celebration must also know that the Fox Farm can only be used outside of opening hours with supervision by a club member. This creates a coherent picture: The Fox Farm is not just any event hall, but a nature-oriented place where celebrations are intentionally connected with environmental education, proximity to the forest, and simple, practical infrastructure. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
Learning Place Nature, BNE, and Ecological Particularities
The Fox Farm is not only a beautiful place to stay in Erfurt but also a fixed entity in environmental education. On the city’s website, it is described as a learning place with high demand; it mentions around 15,000 visitors per year. The facility at the edge of the forest has been operated by the city of Erfurt since 1994, and its main target group is kindergartens and primary schools, although there are also offerings for higher grades, vocational schools, students, and adults. A nature educator and a nature educator, as well as staff in the Voluntary Ecological Year and the Federal Volunteer Service, carry the offerings. Thematically, it is about education for sustainable development, addressing questions such as sustainable economics, justice, resource distribution, renewable resources, biodiversity, and climate and environmental protection. These topics are not treated abstractly but are made tangible through playful and practical experiences with all senses. Particularly interesting is the ecological design of the area itself: In August 2024, the Fox Farm received the Wild Islands plaque from NABU Thuringia. At that time, the city described that the maintained wilderness on the over one-hectare area has long been the management concept, while paths, experience meadows, and eco-gardens are regularly maintained, and the rest largely remains undisturbed. This approach makes the place so educational: It shows that biodiversity does not arise from sterile lawns, but from structure, diversity, and consciously left spaces. The award as a project of the UN Decade in 2014, the Thuringian BNE seal from 2018, and the recertification in 2021 fit into this picture of an institution that not only presents nature but also translates sustainable thinking into learning processes permanently. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
Photos, Impressions, and What Visitors See at the Fox Farm
Those looking for Fox Farm photos quickly come across exactly what makes the place visually memorable: no smooth event backdrop, but a vibrant natural area with many small stations. The city’s image gallery shows, among other things, the main building, the beekeeping area, the woodworking shop with hand drills and wooden foxes, the forest rally, the fox as a mascot, a playground with wooden fox sculptures, green play corners, a wooden sculpture in snake form, green spaces with fruit trees, herb plants, wall lizards, and a winter shot of the Fox Farm. The 2024 published contribution on the Wild Islands also provides good impressions: There, among other things, the experience meadow, the view towards the eco-garden, and the bee pasture with bee colonies can be seen. These images fit well with the factual information on the website, as they show how diverse the facility is structured. Photos convey not only atmosphere but also orientation: Visitors recognize the mix of construction trailers, workshops, gardens, natural play areas, and open spaces. At the same time, the images explain why the Fox Farm works so well for families and school groups. Children see animals, wood, meadows, gardens, and simple learning places; adults see a consciously designed landscape where nature does not appear decorative but serves as a learning and experience space. So, anyone wanting to gather impressions in advance gets a clear picture on the official pages: The Fox Farm is friendly, green, handcrafted, nature-oriented, and at the same time diverse enough to discover new details with every visit. ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
History, Association, and Current Dates
The history of the Fox Farm includes not only the municipal sponsorship but also the commitment of the support association. The Erfurt Fox Farm e.V. describes itself as the support association of the NaturExperienceGarden and emphasizes that it has been supporting, enriching, and networking the municipal facility since 2004. According to the association's page, it was thanks to the association's commitment in 2011 that the closure of the Fox Farm could be averted. The association today primarily organizes environmental education projects and focuses on education for sustainable development, nature experience, and ecological relationships. At the same time, the current website shows that the Fox Farm is not a stagnant project. It mentions new formats as well as proven actions, and the calendar already includes dates for 2026 such as permaculture workshops, open gardens day, and fruit tree pruning courses. New educational offerings are also emerging on the municipal side: In 2025, it was reported that the Fox Farm expanded its offerings for primary schools and is launching new programs for grades 1 to 4. Additionally, recurring events such as the Nature Festival in the Green, which takes place on World Children's Day at the Fox Farm, attract families with music, magic, fairy tales, campfires, and participatory activities. This combination of tradition, voluntary support, and constantly updated offerings makes the Fox Farm particularly credible as a regional learning and experience place. It is not a static showcase but a place where environmental education, community, commitment, and nature experience continuously reconnect. That is why it remains a familiar yet always surprising point of contact for many people in Erfurt. ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
Sources:
- Erfurt.de - NaturExperienceGarden Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Educational Institution Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/leben/oekoumwelt/naturschutz/fuchsfarm/bildungsstaette/index.html))
- Erfurt.de - Visitor and User Regulations Fox Farm ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/mam/ef/rathaus/buergerservice/doc/besucher-_und_nutzerordnung_fuchsfarm.pdf))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - News and Association ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/))
- Fox Farm Erfurt - Nature Birthdays ([fuchsfarm-erfurt.de](https://fuchsfarm-erfurt.de/naturgeburtstag/))
- Erfurt.de - Wild Islands and Current Events ([erfurt.de](https://www.erfurt.de/ef/de/service/aktuelles/pm/2024/148662.html))
Frequently Asked Questions
Reviews
Andreas
22. January 2025
A small but lovely and cozy "educational garden," ideal for families with children up to about 12 years old. We were there by chance, and despite the winter, it's easy to imagine it'll be really cozy here come spring.
Gunter Spindler
21. February 2023
We visited the fox farm with our grandson last Thursday (February 16, 2023). We received an expert tour of the grounds. Interesting events are held from spring to autumn. It's worth checking out or calling them! Thank you.
Marko Werner
3. April 2023
Touringen stamping station. The stamp box is at the gate. Always accessible. Can be combined with a visit to the cathedral viewpoint and the forest playground.
Wuseliger RTG
26. October 2023
I don't mean to be rude, but 15 years ago those were the worst children's birthday parties in kindergarten... no child was happy when they heard, "We're celebrating my birthday at the fox farm"... A plea to all parents: if you don't want your child to become unpopular, don't plan their birthday party there 👍
Fynn Luca Haferburg
12. May 2023
There's nothing to complain about! We went there as a family on a kindergarten outing and would highly recommend it. Children can run around and play freely, and parents don't have to chase after them; they can just be themselves.