Trees at the Jewish cemetery: Civil engineering work causes massive damage!

Trees at the Jewish cemetery: Civil engineering work causes massive damage!

Shocking news reaches us from Lüneburg: The story at the Jewish cemetery takes an unpleasant turn. As the Uelzen press Reportedly, at least two large, old trees and one young tree were severely damaged by careless civil engineering work. The reason: When laying cables to access the restored chapel, the roots of these beautiful trees were affected, which endangers their stability. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated case, as responsibility for such damage is an often discussed topic.

The Hanseatic city reacted immediately and initiated administrative offense proceedings against the contracted construction company. This had not adhered to the agreements previously made with nature conservation organizations such as BUND and NABU. The aim of these was to protect the trees during the work. Now two of the damaged Norway maples and a winter lime tree urgently need to be felled. Another tree, also badly damaged, could potentially be saved; Alternative measures to preserve his health are being examined here.

The consequences of tree felling

Although this winter linden tree is still stable, a tree expert has already treated wounds to prevent further damage from disease or rot. The future of these trees is uncertain and regular inspections will be necessary to keep an eye on the health of the affected plants.

In a city like Cologne, where many old and stately trees can be found in the streets, the question of liability for damage arises. A tree can indeed suddenly fall and cause vehicle damage. Lawyer Daniel Heymann explains in an article ZDF today that in residential areas the property owner is responsible - usually the city, for country roads the federal state and for railway lines the railway. It is even the case that a third of Germany is forested, but 80% of the trees are damaged. Therefore, regular tree health checks are a must!

The city of Cologne, for example, carries out visual inspections twice a year. The trees are checked for dead wood, hanging branches and bark injuries. This is done exclusively from the ground – without expensive pallet trucks or drones. But it is often up to residents to quickly report any abnormalities on the tree. You should be particularly vigilant in extreme weather conditions, as in such cases liability could be considered force majeure.

In summary, it remains to be seen how the city of Lüneburg will deal with the situation at the Jewish cemetery. Discussions about replacement plantings with the Jewish community are underway. It is important in every community to take care of nature and ensure the preservation of our green oases.