Squirrel Forest Campaign in Bebra

Shortly before the end of the year we received this report on a very successful project in Bebra which had been organized perfectly by the forestry department. In this region, too, there had been no tree seeds (acorns or beechnuts). Nevertheless the children found out how a forest reproduces itself naturally. Due to heavy snowfalls the event also had to be postponed once. But read for yourself. This rather more official and precise report by forest officer, Michael Herzog, gives us a very clear insight into the planning and implementation of a quite exemplary Squirrel Forest Campaign project.

"Organization

Enquiry at the school in Baumgarten, Bebra-Breitenbach, whether there was interest in participating in a Squirrel Forest Campaign project. The staff showed immediate interest.

Selection of a suitable forest site within walking distance of the school.

Meeting at school to discuss the programme of events, organization and date. Among other things it was decided that spades would be used because hoes were too dangerous.

The date was arranged for 4th December 2008. However, this date had to be cancelled at short notice because of sudden snow storms. The project then took place a week later on 11th December 2008.

The press, which had been due on 4th December, was contacted by the school. For the alternate date no press reporter could be delegated. The editor requested a report with photo.

Squirrel Forest Campaign

Participants

22 children (squirrels) from class 4 at the school in Baumgarten
Renate Krause, form teacher
Julia Hinske, trainee teacher
Björn Brandau, forestry intern, forestry office, Rotenburg
Christine Porzucek, novice forester, forestry office, Rotenburg
Michael Herzog, forest officer, forestry office, Rotenburg

Begin

8.30 a.m. Participants assemble at the school and then walk to the woods with the children.

Location

“Beetle site” and adjacent stands in Stadtwald Bebra, dept.101 A, “Breitenbacher Alpen” (woods above the river Fulda or Müschelweg and the landscape contractor Zülch in Breitenbach)

Preparation

7.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. Construction of two fire sites by the district foresters.

Transportation of tools and provisions

Squirrel Game

After a welcoming introductory speech by the forest officer the children played the warming-up squirrel game. During the game the particular importance of the squirrel and the jay for the natural seeding of acorns and beechnuts was explained and then acted out. Each squirrel (child) got six nuts (walnuts and hazelnuts substituted acorns and beechnuts which were not available this year) and had 2 minutes to hide them. Then the children had to find the nuts again while predators like hawks and pine martens (grown ups) waited, ready to catch careless squirrels.

Result

2 children fell victim to the predators. Only 2 children found 6 nuts again, but 3 more children did find 5 nuts. The remaining squirrels were informed that they would probably starve to death out in the woods and the nuts which hadn’t been found would grow into little walnut trees next spring.

Collecting wildings

Due to a lack of acorns wildings were dug up instead. With a great deal of enthusiasm the children got to work with their spades and dug up sycamore, gorse and raspberry wildings in specially designated places. Now and again the children had to be restrained from digging up saplings which were too big.

Break

If you work hard, you deserve a break. The children enjoyed theirs around the two camp fires with hot tea and sandwiches which they had brought with them.

Planting the wildlings

The seedlings and bushes which had been dug up were planted on the “beetle site”. Again the work was carried out enthusiastically by the children and in one and a half hours they had planted an area of 0.5 ha.

Finish

Final photograph, farewells and walk back.

We would like to thank everyone who took part in this successful project in Bebra. Forest officer Herzog’s detailed account is sure to serve as an excellent guide for anyone who is interested in organizing an equally successful Squirrel Forest Campaign project!

The participants of the Squirrel Forest Campaign in Bebra