Press releases

17 children from OGS Feldstraße are constantly walking across the grounds of the adventure playground to the cherry tree with full watering cans. They conscientiously go about their new task, because from now on they are watering patrons and are taking on some of the responsibility for the new trees that were planted on the extensive meadow on Monday, December 2.

In order to restore the natural oasis on the Kirschbäumchen adventure playground, the tree maintenance team from Aachen's municipal services planted eight trees there. After a storm, several trees had fallen on the site and have now been replaced. The project planting was initiated together with the city's Real Estate Management, Climate and Environment departments and the German Child Protection Association, which is responsible for the adventure playground. "It's a great example of how we work together across departments in the city administration," says Indra Balsam, Head of Operations at Aachener Stadtbetrieb. "We are delighted to be able to implement such a great project together," adds Christoph Kemperdick, Head of Real Estate Management at the City of Aachen.

"When selecting the trees, we made sure to use a variety of native trees that can cope well with drought and heat," says Nino Polaczek-Keilhauer, Team Leader Tree Care at Aachener Stadtbetrieb. A Norway maple, an ornamental cherry, a sweet chestnut, an oak and a tulip tree are now growing on the site. In a few years, they will have formed large crowns and provide shade in the playground. "We have selected a total of seven different tree species to provide biodiversity for birds, insects and other animal species," explains Nino Polaczek-Keilhauer. "Each tree species offers its own unique habitat thanks to its individual habitus, flowers, fruits, leaf shapes and sizes, as well as its growth height and width."

"We are very happy and grateful for the great support," says Nina Schröter, social worker at the Zum Kirschbäumchen adventure playground. "We will be working intensively with the children and the trees over the next few months, sponsoring trees and involving the children in the nature project."