Fraxinus pennsylvanica 'Patmore' - Red Ash 'Patmore'

The primary school teacher and the lawyer and accountant have two grown-up children. Their daughter is studying law in Munich. And their son has recently started working for the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) in Paris. With a focus on climate neutrality, he is setting up a new department for sustainability there and will contribute to define the political framework for this in the future. "In our private life, too, sustainability is an important topic in our family," says 54-year-old Christian Kirnberger: "Our personal contribution is, among other things, that we now both drive e-cars." With good planning and good nerves, they even reached their holiday destinations "e-mobile", he adds with a laugh.

Another private contribution to sustainability is undoubtedly the Kirnbergers' sponsor tree in the arboretum: a red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica "Patmore"). They became aware of HSWT's anniversary campaign because they are friends with Gundi and Rolf Lynen, also tree sponsors and great supporters of the planting project. "We got to know each other through our dogs. And our dog walks together turned into a wonderful friendship over the years, despite our age difference," Sabine Kirnberger explains. Her new Labrador puppy, Bruno, is already the second generation of dogs in the Kirnberger household on their current forays through the forests, meadows and fields around Freising. "Unfortunately, our old Golden Retriever bitch passed away abruptly in July 2021. But now little Bruno has just made friends with Paula, Gundi and Rolf's much older Labrador girl," says the 54-year-old, and you can feel her deep gratitude for the gift of shared joy and time spent together.

As tree sponsors, the dog people and their four-legged friends are now even further united by the anniversary campaign of the University of applied sciences. So, it is very likely that both families will walk through the arboretum with their canine companions at some point. Certainly the enthusiastic and experienced landscape architect Rolf Lynen will then share one or two interesting observations about the climate trees of the future with Sabine and Christian Kirnberger while senior dog Paula leads little Bruno on the best trial trail. And this is precisely how the arboretum will meet its most important objectives: as a research object for the University of applied sciences, as a provider of opportunities for future generations and as a place of well-being for humans and animals.