Okay, maybe not a real forest, but an orchard with fruit trees is planned here. To the northwest of Kienberg on a future site of the city of Herrieden, children and grandchildren should feel at home one day, just as we enjoy the trees planted by previous generations.

The idea to approach the forest children of Herrieden came from Willi Wellhöfer of the city’s gardening department, who had previously planted a walnut tree with the forest children in their woodland clearing. After the first meeting with the project participants, it was immediately clear: it fits together!

Their own fruit trees – curiosity was piqued, and the children prepared for the event with the educational professionals. Can we plant a banana tree? Why not? And what does a tree need to grow big and strong? Sun, water, care – because the trees to be planted are no longer seeds but come from the nursery. Then each child was allowed to choose one of the available trees. So that in the future we still know whose tree is there, the children painted self-portraits for the name tags, which were also attached to the posts.

On March 1, 2024, the planting day arrived. Parents, children, and employees of the city and the Middle Franconia Landscape Conservation Association gathered at the future site, where some preparatory work had already been done: the wooden posts were already in the ground and were equipped with boards containing information about the trees to be planted there. Mulberries, chestnuts, and nut trees on the upper meadow area, plums further down, and apple trees in between.

Norbert Metz from the Landscape Conservation Association welcomed the parents and children, who were already standing ready with their spades. He emphasized the double future orientation of this action: “Children are the future of our villages and cities, and new fruit trees secure the future of our cultural landscape.” Then they went straight to work with a Wiltshire apple tree, where he demonstrated to the interested children how to plant it correctly. He was amazed at the understanding the children already had. Till from the forest children explained expertly why the trees shouldn’t be buried too deep and firmly – so that the roots can find their way more easily!

Then the children and parents took over. Each planted their own tree, and after about a good half hour, 30 freshly planted trees stood on the former field. For the subsequent refreshment, the parents had prepared a snack, and a few crates of regional apple spritzer were already set up – thus the circle closes, and a toast was made to the future.

A big thank you also goes to Michael Knoll, who took care of making the name tags.

Do you also want to know how to plant a tree? No problem.

• First, a hole is dug with the spade. Approximately 35 cm deep and 70 cm in diameter.
• The tree is inserted but not too deep, so that oxygen can still reach the roots.
• Then the roots are additionally covered with loose soil and tamped down once so that the tree stands firmly.
• Wood chips are spread out so that the tree can be watered well.
• A wooden post on the west side ensures stability – the tree is attached to it with a “double eight knot”. The string is fixed with a staple.
• A wooden bark protection ensures that the trees are not nibbled on by animals.