Dresden natural monument: 375-year-old oak must fall!

Dresden natural monument: 375-year-old oak must fall!

In Dresden, a city known for its green oases and time-honored tree landscapes, a sad chapter is approaching: On Sunday, a 375-year-old English oak tree will be felled in Blasewitz. The impressive tree, which has been protected as a natural monument since 1938, suffers from a dangerous fungal disease, which is why felling is unavoidable. Environment Agency Director René Herold has confirmed that all attempts to save the majestic oak tree have failed, and an expert report orders its felling even during the ban period, which runs from March 1st to September 30th, because the tree endangers public traffic. During the felling work, a specialist from the Environment Agency will be present to ensure that all regulations are adhered to, reports Sächsische.de.

The felling is another step in a series of necessary tree removals in the city. Just last year, 688 street trees had to go in Dresden, and in previous years there were over 800, too Sächsische.de reported. In October 2024, ten Krimlinden trees that were over a hundred years old were felled along Augsburger Straße, and in February of this year, a large Norway maple tree at the Zwingerteich had to be removed due to rotten areas. It is clear that replacement trees must be planted during felling, unless there are special reasons that preclude this.

A look at the tree monuments

The city of Dresden is currently home to 79 natural tree monuments, including 60 deciduous and 19 coniferous trees, with the old oak in Blasewitz being particularly magnificent. But while that tree is falling, there are other examples where public pressure has actually paid off. A similar case involving an oak tree was recently saved in Stangenhagen am Mühlenweg. Thanks to a committed petition, public pressure and overwhelming support from the community, the felling was averted. The original construction plan is now offset by a few meters so that the tree is preserved, which shows how important dialogue between citizens and decision-makers is.

The handling of protected trees is regulated by the guidelines for species and biotope protection as well as the protected area system. There is a general ban on felling during the growing season, which serves to protect breeding bird species and insects. This means that the felling of the oak in Blasewitz is carried out under strict supervision in order to meet the ecological requirements natur.sachsen.de explained.

In fall 2025 or spring 2026, the city plans to plant a replacement tree that is adapted to the changed climate conditions. It remains to be seen whether this can somehow compensate for the loss of the majestic English oak in Blasewitz.