In the first week of March, Aachen's municipal services will be carrying out tree maintenance work on the Vennbahnweg to ensure that the trees remain safe for traffic. From March 2 to 6, urgent tree work is required in the section between St. Gangolfsberg and Iternberg. There are dead willows here that are no longer stable and unbreakable, which is why the work cannot be postponed until the fall.

The heavy equipment and the work and road safety regulations make it necessary to close this section to pedestrian and cycle traffic. The section will be completely closed from 7.30 am to 5.30 pm and can be bypassed via the Iternberg and Napoleonsberg.

In addition to tree maintenance work to ensure traffic safety, dead trees and so-called seedlings (trees with a circumference of less than 30 centimetres) that are at risk of developing into traffic hazards are also removed. "Natural rejuvenation in the sometimes very dense tree population is urgently needed," says Nino Polaczek-Keilhauer, team leader for tree care at Aachen's municipal services. "These measures give the other healthy young trees a good opportunity to develop." With sufficient space, these trees can then perform their intended function and contribute to a good urban climate.

In order to also preserve and create new habitats for birds and insects, any cuttings are chopped up and distributed in the stand on site. "Where the space conditions are right, we will also leave whole pieces of trunk in the stand, which can contribute to species conservation for years to come," says Polaczek-Keilhauer. The work will of course be carried out with breeding and nesting protection in mind.