Medlar
The medlar has leathery leaves and white flowers. In autumn, it produces brown, apple-like fruits with open “calyx lobes” that only reveal their true flavour after the first frost. Symbolically, the medlar has thus always stood for patient maturation and the preservation of knowledge. When it appears in a coat of arms, it signifies a stable community and solidarity.
Medlar (Mespilus germanica)
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Distribution: | Southern Europe, naturalised in Germany |
| Size: | 3–5 metres tall, 4–6 metres wide |
| Lifespan: | up to 100 years |
| Requirements: | sunny to partial shade, heat-tolerant, heat-loving |
| Soil: | nutrient-rich, fresh soils |
| Benefits: | Bee pasture, winter fruits for birds |
Paving the way for individual learning paths
Every year, around 50,000 young people across the country leave school without qualifications – the majority come from disadvantaged families. The consequences are often severe: for the individual as well as for society as a whole. This makes it all the more important to break the vicious circle of poverty and disadvantage. The goal must be to empower all children and young people so that they can successfully complete their schooling and get off to a successful start to their working lives.
RAG-Stiftung’s educational support is designed to identify talent early on, prevent gaps in educational pathways, and equip young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with the tools they need to lead successful, self-determined lives. Projects across the entire educational spectrum contribute to this – providing a significant boost for children and young people in the former mining regions. A particularly successful example of this is the Quinoa School in Herne. As the first school of its kind in the Ruhr region, it launched in school year 2022/23 with funding from RAG-Stiftung. The concept is specifically aimed at children and young people in difficult life situations. It is based on eight pillars: individual support, relationship-building, language support, identity development, family support, digitalisation, career guidance and transition support.
Reason for planting
A reason to celebrate: The first cohort of the Quinoa School will graduate from secondary school in July 2026 – an important milestone for the community and future opportunities. We dedicate the medlar tree on Hugo to this special day, as it symbolises patient maturity and the preservation of knowledge.
