Dispute over trees: lack of space for new plants in Wesenberg!

Dispute over trees: lack of space for new plants in Wesenberg!

In Wesenberg, a decision by the city council is causing considerable unrest among the citizens. Ernst Firmont, a committed resident, is disappointed about the felling of four 100-year-old locust trees, which was carried out before a planting campaign on Drosedower Weg. The city justified the felling with urgently needed maintenance work and to ensure traffic safety, which heated up tempers. Such a decision not only raises questions about the maintenance of the existing tree landscape, but also affects the new plantings that were put into the ground to replace the felled trees.

As a replacement plan, several young trees are now growing on the side of the path in front of the cemetery and along Drosedower Weg. The problem, however, is that these new plants have difficulty developing properly - their roots grow into the old trees. Together with a potential of 20 to 30 meters in height, these young trees could make an important contribution to greening in the future, provided their growth is not restricted. But the question remains whether there is enough space for something new where old locust trees once stood.

The traffic and security situation

The aspects of traffic safety should not be neglected. According to a study by the Federal Highway Research Institute (BASt), accidents involving collisions with trees are characterized by their high severity. This makes the question of tree locations all the more important, alongside the aspects of aesthetics and environmental protection. Various plantings on country roads are examined, the danger of which is underestimated. Statistically speaking, unoccupied rows of trees and avenues significantly increase the risk of accidents. Another aspect is that visibility can be impaired by the optical guidance of the plants, which increases the tendency for driving accidents.

The decision to fell trees is therefore not just a question of short-term urban greenery, but also raises essential questions about traffic safety. However, the Mecklenburg Lake District has declared itself not responsible for the trees along the district road, as district spokesman Nils Henke emphasizes. Responsibility is handed over to the community, which is met with a lot of criticism at this point.

A suggestion for the future

Ernst Firmont therefore suggests locating the newly planted trees on the opposite side of the street, where there is enough space due to the large lawns of the apartment buildings. There is talk of a certain financial contribution from Firmont for the new trees, but the approval of local residents is unclear. Would they be willing to make their land available for the trees and accept the falling leaves? These questions must now be clarified in order to enable the best development of urban green spaces.

In the discussion about felling and new planting, it is important to look at the numbers: so far in 2023, 442 trees will have been felled, while 175 will be replaced. This balance sheet could show how challenging it is to create and maintain healthy urban green spaces in times of tight budgets. In comparison to 2022 alone, in which there were 605 fellings to only 527 new plantings, it is clear that there is a need to catch up here.

The future of the new tree world in Wesenberg remains to be seen. The connections between urban development, environmental awareness and traffic safety are complex and require a great sensitivity to the interests of everyone involved.