Anke Tinsen is the chairwoman of Naturfreunde Bremen. (Frank Thomas Koch)
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When Anke Tinsen says that she has no problem speaking in front of 100 people, you immediately believe her. The 63-year-old speaks quickly and confidently, and is used to making herself heard. Tinsen is chairman of a Bremen association that has existed for a long time, but which receives relatively little attention: the Friends of Nature Bremen.
The local group has existed since 1912 – and is therefore just as old as the much larger nature conservation associations Nabu and BUND today. The association emerged from the labor movement of the early 20th century, says Tinsen. “It was simply about getting out of the daily grind, to meet together in nature. Hiking, singing, playing instruments. ”Hardly anything has changed about this idea to this day. Coexistence in nature is crucial – in very different ways. The association is nicknamed “Association for Environmental Protection, Soft Tourism, Sport and Culture”. “That is of course very vague,” says Tinsen. Behind this is a colorful hodgepodge of groups who play volleyball together, explore the rivers of the region by canoe, go on themed hikes, but have also founded a mandolin orchestra.
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So a lot of variety that somehow has to be steered into the orderly channels of a club. Anke Tinsen, who has been at the forefront of Naturefriends for eight years, is responsible for this. “Like a virgin to a child, I came to it,” she says. In 2008, her mother approached her because the association would not find a new board. So she came to a meeting spontaneously – and shortly afterwards she was elected first cashier. On the other hand, her path to volunteering is not so surprising – after all, the association is closely linked to family history. “My grandmother got involved with Naturefriends during the war. Later, in the 1950s and 1960s, my grandfather was CEO, ”says Tinsen.
When she started taking responsibility about a decade ago, the association was just changing. “Many who have been active with Naturefriends for years were at an age when you don’t want to have so much stress anymore.” Tinsen says she can understand that very well. “I then tried to change things, to broaden the board. That worked out pretty well. ”Despite her 63 years of age, she still feels relatively young and regularly has her childhood moments, says Tinsen and laughs.
It looks rather bad in the middle age range
The age structure in the club has not changed much, however. “It is true that there is a gap: on the one hand we have a lot of members who are 60, 70 or even 80 plus, and on the other hand we have a fairly active youth.” In the middle age range, however, see it looks rather bad because a lot of people there would rather concentrate on their careers and families. “But right now a change can be seen again,” says Tinsen. “The need for nature grows in Corona times.” In summer, she spent a lot of time on a small campsite near Kimmerheide, very close to the Friends of Nature House. The Bremen association has been running both there for many years. “By the way, my grandfather helped build the house,” says Tinsen. It all started with a wooden house, which was then expanded.
For Anke Tinsen, nature has always been a companion. Even in childhood, she and her three siblings were always outside, always out and about in the woods. What has meanwhile lost its social importance is now returning: “More and more people are turning away from mass tourism, long-distance travel, which was very attractive in the early days. This year, of course, also compulsorily. ”In any case, the campsite was fully booked all summer. What Tinsen is particularly pleased about: Younger people have rediscovered nature too. “There was great demand from young families on the square. Sitting together by the fire in the evening, talking, telling stories – that saved many people the summer. ”
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That also applies to her herself, says Anke Tinsen, who works in job and career development at Martinshof. “If everything gets too much for me, I retire to the campsite, go into the forest, watch animals. This is practically my oasis. ”The retreat was all the more important this year, in which many events had to be canceled, and the Naturefriends Houses were only open to a limited extent or not at all. Whining, however, is out of the question.
“I’m an optimist, I’ve always been,” says Tinsen. Nature, for example, remains even in times of crisis. And in this respect there is a lot to discover. “I think Bremen is a comparatively green city. From the Vahr I am in the Blockland in ten minutes, you can ride your bike almost forever along the Weser. Then there is the Rhododendron Park, the Bürgerpark and in the area there is also a lot of forest. ”
Integrated into the BUND
Regardless of Corona, the concerns of nature lovers have already gained in importance in social and political debates in recent years. For example, they are committed to preventing tree felling or the reallocation of natural areas to building land. “Although, as a relatively small association with around 400 members, it is sometimes difficult to make yourself heard about such things,” says Tinsen. That is also why one is integrated into the BUND, which is set up completely differently.
Anke Tinsen also sees advantages in the manageable size of her own club, which would be particularly evident in these difficult times. “We are all a little closer together, and that is what makes the association work, the volunteer work, yes.” She hopes that this closeness will be possible again next year at joint events. The first preparations are already under way.
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