Aspen
The aspen is immediately striking: its round leaves sit on long, flattened stalks and begin to “tremble” even in a light breeze. Botanically, it belongs to the poplar family and grows quickly, often on the edges of sparse woodlands. Symbolically, it represents sensitivity and change. Its vibrating crown makes it one of the liveliest trees in our latitudes.
Aspen (Populus tremula)
| Family: | Willow family, Salicaceae |
| Distribution: | Europe, Siberia, Asia Minor to North Africa |
| Size: | 8–10 metres tall, 7–9 metres wide |
| Lifespan: | up to 100 years |
| Requirements: | sunny to partial shade, very hardy |
| Soil: | tolerates sandy soils to boggy sites, acidic to alkaline, prefers sites with high groundwater levels |
| Benefits: | Slope stabilisation through root suckers, rapidly decomposing, soil-improving foliage, draws water from wet soils |
A hub for the future of water management
Something is currently taking shape in the central Ruhr region that can, without exaggeration, be described as the region’s invisible backbone: a central drainage system from which, after 2030, the collected mine water from dozens of former mines will be channeled into the Rhine: up to 33 million cubic metres per year. Instead of many individual facilities, only one site will handle this task in the future: Lohberg/Hünxe. A central hub that serves the entire central Ruhr region efficiently, safely and sustainably.
Until the mine was closed at the end of 2005, around 2.3 million cubic metres of mine water were pumped out of Lohberg each year from a depth of -819 metres below ground level. As planned, water drainage was suspended in 2006. Since then, the mine water level in the water province has been rising in a controlled manner. Pumping operations will resume once it reaches a level of -630 metres below ground level. The rise in mine water offers many advantages: the water then travels shorter distances through the rock, thereby containing fewer substances and can be pumped from a shallower depth – a clear benefit for energy efficiency and the carbon footprint.
Reason for planting
The starting signal for centralised water drainage in the central Ruhr region: work on the Hünxe shaft for this ambitious project began in 2025. Platforms and pipes for the subsequent backfilling were erected underground, whilst above ground, winches, infrastructure and site facilities are being constructed. Step by step, the shaft is being prepared for well water drainage. The aspen is dedicated to this milestone.
