Status: 02.09.2023, 21:07 p.m.
By: Stephanie Uehlein
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The small oak tree of the Bernried primary school on the park grounds, which was affected by drought damage: the tree has partly green leaves again. So watering helped. © Freundeskreis Bernrieder Park
A green oasis on Lake Starnberg is suffering from climate change: In Bernrieder Park, severe storm damage to large trees can be lamented - but not only that. One path even had to be closed.
Bernried – Bernrieder Park with its old trees is one of the most important publicly accessible recreational areas on Lake Starnberg. But climate change with storms, drought and heavy precipitation is taking its toll. The great biodiversity in the park is "extremely endangered" from the point of view of Dr. Barbara Eder, chairwoman of the Friends of Bernrieder Park.
In the storms of the past few weeks alone, five large, old trees, so-called Methuselah trees, have suffered severe damage due to massive branch breaks, says Eder. Overall, there have been many windbreaks in recent times. Of these, old trees are now affected earlier than usual due to the severity of the storms. The oldest tree in the park, a probably 600-year-old lime tree, has already been damaged, as has the "snake beech", which has a transverse crack. Since the crack poses a danger, the Prelates' Way was closed in the area and a diversion was set up.
From this tree populated by hermits in the oak grove of the park, a large branch has broken off. © Freundeskreis Bernrieder Park
According to Eder, the consequences of the storm are "really a challenge" for the Wilhelmina Busch Woods Foundation, which is responsible for the preservation of the park, when it comes to maintaining the site. One can no longer rely on slow change, but must react to rapid changes.
When it comes to park maintenance, the focus should no longer be just on replanting. Old trees should be preserved as long as possible, even if they have already broken off, as Eder explains. For example, hermits, beetles of a rare and protected species, are given time to move from their ancestral place to a new place. There are many centuries-old trees on the site by the lake, including about 150 so-called Methuselah trees with a trunk circumference at chest height of over 3.20 meters (in the entire area of Bernried there are about 700).
Bad experiences with new plantings
According to Eder, it is also planned to promote trees that have grown wild in the park, which is under landscape and monument protection. They often cope better with the challenges than newly planted conspecifics. Bad experiences have already been made with new plantings – especially those in spring: The trees, including the sponsor tree of the local primary school, show drought stress, as Eder explains. The school has already been equipped with small watering cans by the Circle of Friends so that the children can supply the young oak tree with water.
Barbara Eder, chairwoman of the association, with the watering cans for the primary school. © Freundeskreis Bernrieder Park
The association has also designed a casting plan for extreme weather conditions. In addition, bags were laid out on trees, including the school oak, from which water slowly seeps into the ground. According to Eder, replanting in Bernrieder Park is now only planned for autumn. Which trees will be added to the stock is to be determined in a concept of the responsible landscape gardener and the Wilhelmina Busch Woods Foundation.
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"The drought affects all the trees here"
It has already been shown that maple trees cope better with the changed environmental conditions than beech and oak, says Eder. But she also explains: "I would go so far as to say that the drought affects all the trees here. Older ones can survive them longer, but there is also drought damage to them."
Also worth reading: For diversity of the cultural landscape: Order campaign to bring more orchard trees to the district
The fact that Bernrieder Park is influenced by climate change is "a major challenge," says Karl-Otto Kullmann, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees. "Everyone doesn't know exactly how to deal with it yet." Through "intensive care and the selection of suitable deciduous trees", the park must be made "climate-fit".
Heavy rainfall brings with it the risk of liquid manure getting into the lake
By triggering flooding – especially near the teahouse – heavy rainfall events also hit the park. According to Eder, nutrients are washed out of meadows. There is also a risk that slurry will end up in Lake Starnberg. This entails restrictions on the work of Hofgut Bernried, which is responsible for the areas in question. Heavy rain also washes out paths in the park and undesirablely transports many stones into gutters. This, too, entails work, explains Eder.
Tree hollows as a habitat for many species
Over time, she has become aware of "what a treasure the trees in the park are" and the extent of "the great diversity" (biological diversity) there, says the chairwoman of the association. She is dismayed by the fact that this diversity is now "extremely endangered" from her point of view. If an old trunk breaks off, this could have consequences "for x species" that have previously colonized a cavity of the affected tree, says Eder. This is because these species are deprived of a habitat "in one fell swoop". Tree cavities are used by insects as well as birds and mammals.
Read also: Floods on the one hand, drought on the other: how can we counter the two extremes?
Contact the Circle of Friends by e-mail to freundeskreisbernriederpark@web.de and to the Wilhelmina Busch Woods Foundation by e-mail to info@bernrieder-park.de.