Despite the icy temperatures, numerous tree enthusiasts gathered in Müschpark near Kastanienallee last Valentine's Day. The Aachen municipal company had planted 14 chestnut trees there to form Aachen's first avenue of love trees. Each chestnut tree has a sponsor, which citizens could win by sending in a touching or original message of love.

A sign of hope and solidarity
Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen, who herself was on the jury for the selection of the love messages, thanked the committed citizens: "We were deeply moved by your messages. Thank you for opening your hearts and taking responsibility for our nature. For me, the avenue of love trees is a symbol of hope and solidarity." The location on Kastanienallee was chosen to expand the tree population there. Chestnuts are also particularly resilient climate trees.

After the sponsorship certificates were awarded and a love song was performed in Öcher Platt, the tree lovers were allowed to get active themselves: They attached signs with QR codes to their trees, which visitors can use to call up the love messages. Afterwards, all the patrons were able to water their trees with the watering cans provided. Madeleine Genzsch, project manager of Eine Welt Forum Aachen e. V. and initiator of the avenue of love trees, was delighted with the realization of the avenue: "The realization of this project was only possible thanks to the cooperation of many people. Thank you for the great joint commitment!"


Diverse and personal messages of love
The messages of love sent in are as diverse as they are touching. A year 12 pupil from the Parzival School in Aachen used her sponsorship to draw attention to the protection of trees in the city. Christina Woltery wrote a poetic poem about her love of nature and her family. A married couple shared their personal love story and now have a new favorite place in Aachen - right next to their love tree.

The jury, consisting of representatives of the project's cooperation partners - Eine Welt Forum Aachen e. V., Aachener Stadtbetrieb, Stiftung Umwelt und Entwicklung NRW and the City of Aachen - selected the messages according to the criteria of creativity, diversity and connection to Aachen's urban nature. Now everyone in Aachen is invited to discover the Liebesbaumallee: just below the Kastanienallee towards Soers, the 14 chestnut trees with their messages of love are waiting for a visit.

Further information and the messages of love can be found online at https://liebesbaumallee.de/.