A meadow orchard for tree sponsors on the Gögerl? This motion divides Weilheim's city councillors

In this area at the Weilheimer Gögerl, a meadow orchard could be created for a tree sponsorship program - if the city council wants it. © oar

Should the city of Weilheim establish a tree sponsorship program for which citizens can donate for births or weddings, for example? The building committee voted in favour by a razor-thin majority – although many problems and counter-arguments were conjured up.

Weilheim – The starting point was an idea that everyone actually finds nice – and which is by no means new: Following on from an old custom, a native tree should be planted locally for every newborn child registered in Weilheim. This was requested by the CSU city council faction two years ago, and at the end of 2021 the issue was discussed in detail in the building committee and finally referred to the parliamentary groups for further consultation (we reported). There was also a similar request from the citizens some time ago.

The town hall already has a suitable area in mind

Now the topic came up again in the building committee of the city council. In the meantime, the city building authority has also investigated a possible area for such plantings: an urban meadow on the popular walking path below the Gögerl, which has so far been used for agriculture. The district office is also in favour of using it as a meadow orchard in the interests of biodiversity, said Manfred Stork, head of the city's building administration, at the most recent meeting.

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For safety and liability reasons, the citizens themselves should not be allowed to plant trees on an urban meadow, the committee members and town hall employees largely agreed. The planting and care would have to be done by the municipal utilities, the organization by the city administration. The cost of a tree would probably be around 600 euros, Stork estimated. They would have to be borne by citizens who act as godparents, the committee said, and the city should not incur any costs under any circumstances. In the sense of identification with "their" tree, however, the donors should be allowed to participate in some form, for example at a joint planting campaign or at a small festival once or twice a year.

The majority in favour was very narrow in the building committee

With this in mind, after much back and forth, the building committee spoke out in favour of such a tree sponsorship programme – not limited to welcome trees, but also open to other donors. The location at Gögerl was also well received. The administration is expected to determine more precise costs for such a program in the near future. Ultimately, it is up to the city council to decide. During the preliminary deliberations in the committee, the vote was very close with five votes to four. There were dissenting voices across the groups, but not from the CSU.

CSU spokeswoman Marion Lunz-Schmieder pointed out that birth trees had already been planted in Weilheim, namely for the avenue to Lake Dietlhof. Something like this is "a good custom, and in the meantime the climate protection aspect is added". Weilheim's Agenda 21 is also looking for suitable places in the city for tree planting.

City council members complain about "huge administrative burden"

But other committee members found numerous counter-arguments. The matter was "not so simple", said BfW spokeswoman Brigitte Holeczek: "Self-planting on a municipal property is associated with great difficulties", and also in the form of the delegation to the municipal utilities she will not agree to the application. "The administrative burden is huge," complained Horst Martin (SPD): "Before I make another decision, I would like to know what it costs and whether it is still an option for the citizens." ÖDP representative Gerd Ratter spoke out completely against the project. The costs are "incalculable", you also have to include the lost lease for the property, said Ratter, who acts as a consultant for biodiversity and the implementation of species protection in the city council. "That's why I think: just stop!"

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CSU spokeswoman: "Other cities have also managed to do that"

On behalf of the Greens, Alfred Honisch doubted whether the necessary effort was proportionate or whether in the end the CO2 emissions for the cause would not be higher than the actual benefits. But one should determine the costs and then see whether there is still a need for a realistic sum. Above all, the decades of care of the trees and the area would have an impact, Rupert Pentenrieder (BfW), the city council's consultant for urban greenery, pointed out. But he did not want to "talk the matter to death right away".

Lunz-Schmieder also asked for this: "We should not be deterred by the difficulties, other cities have also managed to do that". The CSU spokeswoman is certain: "Once it has been thought through, then it is a manageable effort. And the trees should be worth it to us."