Viva la WiWa! We want to celebrate the end of the clearing season together!
On February 28 we are hosting a party à la WiWa in the Infoladen Wilhelmsburg. Be excited for our Soli beverage the ANTIFAhne, cake and the coolest forest decorations 🌱🔥
Celebrate with us 💚 we start at 8 pm until about 1 am 🎉
We wish for a moderate consumption of alcohol, we are only serving drinks with less than 6% alcohol. The soli beverage is alcohol free. Smoking is only allowed outside.
Accessibility: The Infoladen is accessible via three steps. A mobile ramp is available.There is a single all-gender toilet. It is spacious but has no grab rails. There is no baby changing table.
64 years ago, on the night of February 16, 1962, Hamburg was hit by a devastating storm surge. Where the Wild Forest stands today, there used to be temporary after-war housing. When the Spreehafen dike broke, most of the 315 flood victims died on these grounds.
Today, we remember all the flood victims and fight to ensure that the Wild Forest can continue to grow. In the face of the ever-worsening climate catastrophe, it is irresponsible to destroy and seal off more natural areas!
This is what it looked like right after the great flood in the space the wild forest grows in now. Some foundations of old garden houses can still be found here under bushes.
In the front there is a beat up car next to some washed up greenery. In this heap is a sign that says “Allotment 107 Old Land boarder” In the background are small houses and trees.
Attention: This post contains images of severed trees/branches, clearing vehicals and freshly cut deadwood.
On Monday, 2. February 2026 at around 11 o’clock a truck,
On Monday, 2 February, at around 11 a.m., a van, a lorry and a harvester belonging to the company Arbor Artist drove into the forest. We knew from the Parks Department (Grünflächenamt) that ‘road safety work’ was to take place that day. Nevertheless, we decided to stay, observe and ensure that the cut wood remained in the forest.
Arbor Artist HarvesterArbor Artist Van
The Parks Department has classified two trees as dangerous. One is a willow tree to the left of the tree house and the other is to the left of the entrance to the clearing. The forest workers cut them down to 8 metres and 6 metres respectively. At our request, the workers, who, by the way, spoke out in favour of preserving the Wild Forest, left the cut wood in the forest.
Harvester next to the second willow tree
The Parks Department had actually promised us that they would instruct tree care workers to leave dead wood in the forest. However, the workers on site were unaware of this and had to make a follow-up phone call. During two further tree maintenance projects at the turn of the year, a large proportion of the felled wood was not left in the forest either!
bare trunk of a poplar tree, a little dead wood lying on the forest floor
The next day, activists scattered one of the piles of wood into smaller piles in the forest, while we left the second one alone. These piles of dead wood are excellent insect hotels, shelters and food sources! 🐜We are critical of cutting down entire tree crowns; the WiWa is a forest, not a park where everything has to be neat and tidy. Moreover, there are alternatives to felling half a tree.
Activists on top of a pile of deadwood
To our knowledge, no further tree maintenance work is planned for this clearing season. Nevertheless, we remain vigilant! ✊ #WildForestStaysWild
There is no conflict of objectives: wild forests will remain wild!
What happened?
At the public hearing ‘Wild Forest/Spreehafenviertel: Taking the conflict of objectives seriously’ (“Wilder Wald/ Spreehafenviertel: Zielkonflikt erstnehmen”) on 3 February 2026, the politicians of the district assembly, who will decide on the futur of the Wild Forest, and the public were to be informed. To this end, the political parties invited experts and the audience was able to ask questions. No decisions were made there.
Who organised this?
Die Linke and Volt (opposition, want to save the forest) had requested the public hearing, unfortunately with a formal error. The Green Party and SPD (government, want to destroy the forest) then did it themselves and thus had control over the structure and moderation. They put the issue on the agenda of the main committee (faction leaders), even though the politicians responsible for this area are members of the urban planning committee.
Why didn’t you have any banners with you this time?
We did. But the district office banned all signs and banners and even called the police when we arrived in the foyer. And the security service checked bags to make sure no one smuggled in a banner or sign. But we handed out all our flyers!
Were there many people there and what did they ask?
It was packed, even though the district itself didn’t advertise the public hearing. The Waldretter*innen did that as a volunteer based citizens’ initiative! Right at the beginning of the hearing, the entrance was closed, and latecomers weren’t able to participate. All the people who spoke up during the hearing opposed or were critical of the destruction of the forest. But not all questions were heard!
What did the experts say?
There were nine (supposed) experts present, five against the forest, three in favour of the forest and one in favour of sports facilities. NABU, BUND and a professor of social sciences made it clear that destroying the wild forest would violate species, forest and climate protection laws, would only bring disadvantages to the people in the neighbourhood, and that the figures on how much of the forest will supposedly be preserved are incorrect.
And what did the others say?
The district office and IBA once again talked about how great their plans are, the SPD once again exploited people looking for housing and refugees for their outdated housing construction and urban planning policies, and the Greens went along with it. As always: port and industrial areas are supposedly untouchable and new construction absolutely necessary, the waterfront strip and the ‘action area’ (“Maßnahmenfläche”, 0.9 hectares of forest that are to be preserved) will be “a good compromise”.
Did anything come of it?
No. The official statement from the Nature Conservation Working Group (“AG Naturschutz”) in 2023 is against any development. Since then, the IBA has been weighing things up, working on it… without any changes to the plan that could even remotely be considered a compromise. An honest assessment can only be made if a no to the so-called Spreehafenviertel were possible. But with the SPD and IBA, the economy always takes precedence over nature and climate protection.
And what do you think?
We’re fed up with this pseudo-participation theatre. We don’t care what you have to say, we protect the forest – radically! This clearing season still has 20 days to go, and even after that, the same applies: stop the Spreehafenviertel, keep the wild forest! WHOLE!
Banner we held up in front of the building, it reads “We don’t care what you have to say, we protect the forest – radically!”
Every year, the IBA and district office (Bezirksamt) provide information about their construction projects in Wilhelmsburg. We have gathered the following:
Planning for the so-called Spreehafenviertel district resumed in September, and objections from public authorities (TÖB), including nature conservation associations, are currently being examined. All of these authorities have spoken out clearly in favour of preserving the forest.
At the beginning of February 2026, the Main Committee (Hauptausschuss) of the Mitte district will hold a public hearing, “Spreehafenviertel/Wilder Wald, taking conflicting goals seriously”. Each political group can appoint experts who can be questioned on the topic by the committee members. The hearing is open to the public and is intended to provide the committee members, who will later decide on the development plan, with more background information.
The “Öffentliche Planauslegung” (in english: +/- public showing of the plans) has been renamed to “Öffentlichkeitsbeteiligung” (in english: participation of the public). When this part of the plan will take place they didn’t want to reveal. They did show the following timeline:
End of 2026 right to build, meaning building plan (B-Plan) completed
Starting 2027 start of making the land ready for building, meaning date of a possible clearing of the forest!
Neither the clearing nor the building permit for the 800 m² on Schlenzigstraße have yet been approved. They tried to blame BM-Bau for the construction plans on the 800 m² and claim that it has nothing to do with the so-called Spreehafenviertel. However, the city itself submitted the application, is the landowner and the land swap is only ‘necessary’ because they are planning new sports grounds in the so-called Spreehafenviertel on what is currently still part of the BM-Bau terrain.
We are staying alert, the battle for the Wild Forest has not yet been decided!
During the clearing season, we want to work together to protect the Wild Forest and show our determined protest against any destruction. Come to the weekly vigil, bring a hot drink and your breakfast! Location: Schlenzigstraße corner of Hornatsdeicher Weg Can you commit to a specific date or even take over the leadership of the gathering on site? That would be great, get in touch with us!
Drinking water, hot tea and snacks. If you can, bring something for others too.
FFP2 Masks
Things that make noise/street chalk/appropriate banners and flags
Something to sit on
If you are going to provide your personal details, remember to bring your ID card, health insurance card, etc.
If you will refuse to provide your personal details, be sure not to bring your ID, tickets or anything else that may give clues to who you are.
Leave any calendars, planners and ideally your phone at home!
Write down the number of the EA: 040 43278778
If you are going to take part in an action, remember: Everything you have with you can be broken or taken away by the police!
Sturdy footwear and robust, warm clothing with long legs and sleeves that can get ruined (not your favourite items).
Waterproof clothing, umbrella (protects against rain, sun and cameras)
Rescue blankets, heating pads/inserts
If needed, old mat and sleeping bag to stay the night
One first aid kit per group
Important medication (packaged in blisters, on the box is a trace number!)
FFP2 Masks
Mosquito and Ticksprotection!
Torch or headlamp
Drinking water, hot tea
Food (Muesli bars, vegan sausages, tinned food (tins with pull tabs!), dried fruit and nuts, chocolate…)
Something to read, games, stim toys, robust music instruments
Whatever material needed for your action
Money for your journey home, food, phone calls, etc.
When providing personal details: ID card, health insurance card, public transport ticket if applicable
If you will refuse to provide your personal details, ensure that you do NOT have any of this information with you, that your name does not appear anywhere in your belongings, and that you have a personal ID number (see legal information).
NO personal notes, calendars, etc
NO personal phone
Phone number of the EA written on your skin: 040 43278778
The WiWa Consensus is a list of rules. We would like to see all the people who are fighting to preserve the Wild Forest (Wilder Wald) to follow these rules. This list was written by independent people who are working together to preserve the Wild Forest. The list is meant to ensure that we can fight well together. The following applies:
We intervene as little as possible in the forest. We stay on the paths, we do not cut down living plants, we leave dead wood in the forest and clear away our own and other waste.
We do not accept any forms of discrimination or transgressive behaviours. This includes, but is not limited to, racist, ableist, anti-Semitic, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, religiously or philosophically discriminatory behaviour and conspiracy theories. We know that we ourselves sometimes behave in discriminatory or violent manners. That is why we always want to think and reflect on our own behaviour and not condemn others.
We address people with the names and pronouns they choose. We do not reveal “real names” (= names that appear on an identity card or are used in non-political everyday life) and we do not give any other direct indication of people’s identity.
There are no hierarchies. Decisions are made by consensus. This means that everyone has agreed with a decision and has been able to share their views. We pay particular attention to the needs of people who have invested a lot of time and energy in individual structures.
We do not belong to any particular movement or group, activists from all different backgrounds are welcome.
The citizens’ initiative Waldretter*innen fights for the same goal with other means. We actively exchange views with them and support their actions.
If you agree with this consensus, we invite you to build autonomous structures that are independent of us. If you occupy something, you are responsible for your actions. You are free to decide how you want to work and live with other structures. We stand in solidarity with all people and actions that agree to this consensus. We do not talk about you to the police, the press or anyone else.
We see the IBA, the Gladigau GmbH, the police, construction companies and clearing companies as assistants of the city of Hamburg and the Mitte district. We do not trust them and their statements and ignore their promises.
We never talk to the police to protect ourselves and others! Exceptions are absolutely necessary conversations, such as registering a demonstration or when people got taken into police custody.
We take care not to emotionally or physically harm any living beings. We also do not accept the serious bodily harm of police officers.
We try to evaluate ourselves and our skills properly. When it comes to climbing, we take care not to overextend ourselves and to respect our own limits. When we feel unsafe, we ask others for help and don’t climb alone. Experienced climbers are happy to share their knowledge.
The Awareness AG is accessible to everyone, at the camp or by email: wiwawareness@systemli.org (PGP on request)
The Wild Forest belongs to the city of Hamburg and is open to the public. You are allowed to visit here at any time. Our regular public vigils and also the long vigil with camp in the clearing from 26 September to 5 October 2025 are registered as assemblies. You are welcome to visit at any time and there is the option to stay overnight in the camp. On your way to and from a registered assembly, the police is not allowed to stop you. Insist on your right! You do not have to provide them with identification or anything else to be allowed to join a legal protest! The tree house is also registered as a part of our protest and is protected by the right of assembly.
During larger actions, the Hamburg EA can be reached at: +49 (0)40 43278778 Before going to a protest or action (legal or not) write this number in waterproof ink on your body!
By calling the EA (= Ermittlungsausschuss) you reach other activists, that are knowledgeable in basic legal questions. They are there to support you in case of arrest/legal trouble. Contact them if you are taken into custody, witness arrests or similar. If the police take you into custody, you have the right to make one successful phone call, so call the EA. If the EA is not immediately available, you will receive their emergency phone number from the answering machine message and can leave a message. If you can only reach the answering machine, this does not count as a successful phone call and it is your right to make a second call to the emergency EA number!
In case of arrest, it is your decision whether or not to give your personal details to the police (please be aware of the possible legal repercussions of your decision); we support you either way. We are prepared and we are preparing our support structures for the scenario that people do not give their personal details to the police.
If you receive mail from the police following protests for the Wild Forest, or if you have questions about possible consequences before taking action, you can contact us, the Hamburg EA, the Hamburg Rote Hilfe, or other legal aid structures.
If you have been arrested or stopped by the police and expect legal repercussions, check your postbox at your registered adress (= “Meldeadresse”) at least once a week!
We will support you if you are affected by repression, whether with money, legal advice or solidarity. Get in touch with us, you are not alone!
If you are struggling with situations you have experienced during protests or police actions, you are welcome to contact us or Out of Action Hamburg. Out of Action Hamburg can be reached at outofaction-hh@nadir.org. Regular meetings are always held on the first and third Wednesday of the month at Schwarzmarkt, starting at 18:30.
