375-year-old oak in Blasewitz: felled for safety reasons!

375-year-old oak in Blasewitz: felled for safety reasons!

A sad day for tree lovers in Dresden: On Sunday, a 375-year-old English oak tree was felled on Hüblerstrasse in Blasewitz. The tree had been protected since 1938 and was one of the city's natural monuments. But despite its age, the oak was sick and suffering from fungal infection, which ultimately led to this drastic decision. The Environment Agency concluded that all possible measures were taken to save the tree. But the safety of the residents came first. Environmental department head René Herold confirmed that there was already an expert report that made the felling necessary in order not to endanger public traffic, even if felling is actually not permitted from March to September.

The oak, which was around 23 meters high, posed a risk to passing vehicles. In order to comply with species protection regulations, an expert from the Environmental Agency will be on site during the felling work. These began on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. and Hüblerstrasse was completely closed in this area so that the work could be carried out safely.

A part remains standing

Despite the oak being felled, part of the tree trunk remains standing. An important reason: two young starlings that have found their habitat there. This part of the trunk should only be shortened when the young animals have fledged. This ensures that the birds are not affected.

But there is also positive news regarding the city trees in Dresden. The Environment Agency plans to plant a new tree in autumn 2025 or spring 2026 that is specially adapted to the changed climate conditions. The changing climate poses new challenges for urban greening, and the replacement tree is intended to be part of a larger plan to adapt the urban landscape.

The city's green lung

There are currently a total of 79 natural tree monuments in Dresden - 60 deciduous trees and 19 coniferous trees. These trees are not only important suppliers of oxygen, but also habitat for many animal species. The water balance in the forests and adaptation to dry periods are becoming increasingly important in order to increase the resilience of the forests. The city has also committed itself to forest conversion as part of EU initiatives in order to increase the structural diversity of tree species and promote mixed forests. Above all, planting heat and drought tolerant tree species is a step in the right direction.

Such measures are necessary to better cope with the future challenges posed by climate change and other environmental factors. Mixed forests offer several advantages: They are more resistant to pests and diseases and help reduce the risk of forest fires. In the interests of sustainable urban development, it is essential that attention is paid to native tree species even when new plantings occur.