Plum-Leaved Hawthorn
The plum-leaved hawthorn is striking for its dense crown. But be careful: it has sharp thorns. In the spring, it is covered in fragrant white flowers. In Celtic folklore, it was even believed that the tree was home to fairies. The interplay of thorns and flowers makes it a symbol of the balance between beauty and defences.
Plum-Leaved Hawthorn (Crataegus x prunifolia)
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Distribution: | Cultivated; species found throughout Eurasia and North America |
| Size: | 5–6 metres tall, 4–6 metres wide |
| Lifespan: | up to 70 years |
| Requirements: | sunny locations; tolerates frost, heat and drought well |
| Soil: | Very adaptable, simply avoids waterlogging |
| Benefits: | Attracts bees, provides shelter and food for birds, decorative flowers and fruit |
Every child has a talent
There is plenty of young talent in the Ruhr region. Yet children from families without an academic background – regardless of their aptitude – are still less likely to embark on a degree course or are more likely to drop out. They often find it harder to settle into university life and find their feet in an unfamiliar environment. RAG-Stiftung has therefore expanded its support for scholarships in schools and higher education. In doing so, it directly supports teenagers and young adults in the former mining regions on their academic or career paths. In fact, RAG-Stiftung has awarded over 6,000 such scholarships by 2025.
RuhrTalente is one of the initiatives supported and is also the largest regional school scholarship programme in Germany. It supports children and young people from all types of schools from Year 8 until they start vocational training or a (dual) degree course. The scholarship includes practical opportunities, regular personal guidance and support, as well as individual talent development. Since 2021, RuhrTalente has been permanently funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. RAG-Stiftung is the programme’s anchor foundation.
Reason for planting
10 years of RuhrTalente: RAG-Stiftung launched the school scholarship programme in collaboration with the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in 2016. It has funded around 2,000 scholarships since then. And the journey continues. We are celebrating the many young talents who have been involved in the programme over the last 10 years with a tree on Hugo.
