Squirrel Forest Campaign in Beerfelden

New life for a “beetle site”

The children from class Flex A primary school in der Stried have also followed the example of the squirrels and laid in winter supplies of acorns. In the woods of the Stadtwald Beerfelden district forester, Uwe Röglin, had made out an ideal place for his ‘Squirrel Forest Campaign’ project: an area of old coniferous forest which had been destroyed by bark beetles. The site had already been cleared and was waiting for a new use.

Hardly any acorns…

At first a search for acorns to use for the forest seeding project was carried out in neighbouring oak tree stands, but unfortunately there weren’t enough acorns there either because of the general lack of tree seeds this year. However, forester Röglin came up with a solution. He decided to try a different approach from the other projects and got officially certified tree seeds from a plant nursery for this seeding project.To start with forester, Frank Krämer, demonstrated various planting tools and methods to the children and he showed them how it is possible to create new forests with oak wildlings.

Seeding places with name plates

Before everyone got down to work the Swedish tree torches were lit and the children enjoyed a mid morning break with refreshments. Then 23 children aged between seven and ten together with their teacher, Ms Thomas, buried the acorns. Each child marked the spot with his or her own name plate because they all want to visit their little oak trees after a while and see what progress they have made!

- class Flex A primary school in der Stried -