Sweet chestnut 2
The sweet chestnut is also known as the common chestnut or marone. Its edible fruits are very popular. But the sweet chestnut’s lush flowers are also an important food source for many insect species. Originally native to southern Europe, the tree is used primarily for agricultural purposes and has long been cultivated for its starchy nuts. The sweet chestnut was named Tree of the Year in 2018.
Sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa)
| Family: | Fagaceae – Beech |
| Distribution: | mainly Southern Europe, also in parts of Germany |
| Size: | max. 15–35 metres tall, 10–20 metres wide |
| Life: | Up to 200 years |
| Requirements: | Sun to partial shade, heat-loving and very heat-tolerant, moderately hardy, tolerant of urban climates, wind-resistant, resistant to industrial pollution |
| Soil: | fresh to dry soils, well-drained, acidic or neutral substrates, sensitive to frost in heavy soils, marginally salt-tolerant |
| Benefits: | Bee pasture, edible fruit |
Research for change
Big plans for research and development: A new Transformation Centre for Georesources and Ecology (TGÖ) is being established in the Funkenberg district of Herne, which from 2028 will bring together all key expertise relating to georesources, post-mining and ecological transformation. Around 80 scientists will then conduct research in modern laboratories on water management issues and develop monitoring methods that enable the smart reuse of industrial sites – with a view to covering all mining sectors, from stone and lignite to mineral raw materials and rare earths.
The TGÖ is sponsored by the DMT Society for Teaching and Education, which also includes the Georg Agricola University of Applied Sciences (THGA) in Bochum. The Post-Mining Research Centre (FZN) based there was initiated by RAG-Stiftung. Once a new building in Herne has been completed, the institute will move to the new site. With the TGÖ, Herne is gaining a sustainable research hub of great urban significance and a vibrant space for transformation, teaching and interdisciplinary exchange.
Reason for planting
With a maximum of 662 million euros, the “5-Site Programme” run by the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will provide funding through 2038 to local authorities affected by the decommissioning of existing coal-fired power stations. Herne is one of these sites. The initial funding commitment of two million euros – with a total of 44 million euros planned in the long term – marked the launch of the new TGÖ. The second chestnut tree on Hugo is dedicated to this important milestone.