Obst theft in Übach-Palenberg: NABU chairman raises the alarm

Obst theft in Übach-Palenberg: NABU chairman raises the alarm

The theft of fruit on the orchard on the Stegh in Übach-Palenberg causes considerable excitement. Hubert Schippers, the chairman of the local NABU group, faces the challenge of ensuring the required safety of his fruit meadow. In a night and fog campaign, thieves stolen a large amount of fruit. This is not the first incident of this kind, but the frequency has accepted alarming proportions. On an area of 7,700 square meters, five of the 57 fruit trees have already been picked completely empty.

It remains unclear where the stolen fruit was brought. Schippers suspects that the perpetrators may have crossed the border with the Netherlands. "These are a few hundred kilograms of fruit that have been stolen to us so far," says the NABU chairwoman. These incidents not only raise questions about security, but also question confidence in society because respect for foreign property disappears.

The situation on the orchards

The orchard on Stegh has been owned by NABU since 2015, while another meadow that was acquired in 2007 had already had similar problems. Safety measures such as signs cannot deter the thieves. Even the installation of wild cameras to identify the perpetrators has not yet delivered any results. Schippers reports that a passerby once took a picture of a suspected thief that came to steal with a vehicle and a ladder. Unfortunately, the image of the police could not serve as evidence, since the license plate was unclear.

The thefts are frustrating, especially for the children from the Marienberger Auenland, who regularly use the meadow to learn as part of a natural pedagogical program. Here you should understand the meaning of food and develop appreciation for what nature offers. "We want the children to learn to deal with food consciously," explains Hubert Schippers while watching the children who pick apples.

a contribution to environmental education

The fruit harvest is not only a teaching material, but also a creative way for children to make a connection to nature. The fruit harvest leads to the exciting experience of juice production, which helps the children to be able to understand the process from the tree to the bottle. "After the harvest, we have to pay attention to the nesting boxes for birds and bats and maintain the trees properly," says Schippers. The entire year there are numerous activities on the orchards that help the children understand and appreciate nature.

The lively meadow houses many plant and animal species that the children can discover with the help of the NABU members. Whether observing insects in the self -made insect hotel or when researching the animal world around the meadow, the children learn how important it is to protect nature.

With the constant threat of theft, the entire initiative of the NABU group is at stake. The yields from the fruit harvest serve not only to maintain the meadows, but also to promote projects for children and adolescents. "Every theft burdens our community and limits the possibilities of the children," emphasizes Schippers. In order to counteract this situation, he plans to have a sign attached to video surveillance, hoping that this will be a deterrent.