It is considered the “green lung” of Würzburg, the 34-hectare Ringpark. With almost 4,800 trees, hedges and meadows, it is important for cooling the city in summer. But Lower Franconia has been struggling with heat and drought for many years. The administrative district is considered one of the driest regions in Bavaria.
Trees in Würzburg have fallen victim to the drought
The Ringpark in Würzburg also suffers from this. The city is in a basin and it can get very hot in summer. In the past few years, around 500 trees had to be felled throughout the city because they were no longer stable. Significantly more than in previous years. Although the garden department of the city of Würzburg waters the trees in the ring park in the hot months, trees have died there too. “In 2020, for example, there were 109 trees, some of which were up to 200 years old,” said Christian Weiß, the press spokesman for the city of Würzburg, to BR24.
Almost 1.3 million euros in funding for climate change
How can you make the Ringpark fit for climate change? How can the trees be better supplied with water? The city of Würzburg is now receiving 1.275 million euros in federal funding for measures. Würzburg was included in the federal program “Adaptation of urban areas to climate change”.
“The ring park of the city of Würzburg is the green lung of the city and our local recreation center. It is of enormous importance for the quality of life in Würzburg. However, as a green lung it suffers particularly from climate change. That is why it is important that we receive financial support from the federal government , so that we can help our oasis even better,” says Mayor Christian Schuchardt (CDU), pleased about the support from the federal government.
Cooling effect of the park right into the densely built-up old town
The park offers an important place for people to relax and retreat in the midst of overheated urban areas. In addition, the Ringpark is so large that its cooling effect even extends around 100 meters into the densely built-up old town, according to the city.
Untapped spring to provide water for Ringpark trees
Specifically, it is about a new irrigation system in the ring park. Until now, the employees of the gardening department have been watering the trees with tankers filled with groundwater or water from the Main. In the future, however, they want to use water from a source that is currently not being used. The water should be stored in a pond and the irrigation should then run automatically, the city says.
Garden department is involved in planning
The garden office has drawn up a project outline. Now that the funding has been approved, it’s time to put it into practice: What kind of technology is needed? Where must lines run? How does automation work. “We cannot yet estimate when it will actually start,” said press spokesman Weiß to BR24.
Another factor: Plant climate-resistant trees
The plan also includes planting new tree species in the ring park that can cope better with the heat and drought. There are currently 220 species of trees in the Ringpark, for example native species such as the common beech or the small-leaved lime, but also rare and exotic species such as the cucumber magnolia from North America, the Persian oak or the cake tree from Japan.
The federal program “Adaptation of urban areas to climate change” wants to support projects that deal with climate protection, climate adaptation and CO2 reduction: “with high technical quality, with an above-average investment volume or with high innovation potential,” it says.
