Quercus cerris 'Summer Veil' - Twig Oak 'Summer Veil'
City of Freising: "For me, the HSWT is a permanent fixture in Freising!", says Mayor Tobias Eschenbacher
There is a deep bond between the city of Freising and the HSWT: the University of Applied Sciences advises the large district town on technical matters. The city supports research projects, such as the renaturation measures in the Freisinger Moos. The HSWTs buildings and gardens shaped the cityscape for decades. That is why there will, of course, also be a Freising "city tree" in the arboretum.
"As witnesses of time, trees not only bear witness to the past - they also point to the future," says Tobias Eschenbacher, the Mayor of Freising, and continues: "In my wishful thinking, the Freising 'city tree' will have a special place in the arboretum and make its contribution to a future-proof coexistence of social demands and an intact environment. The 44-year-old, trained retail salesman is himself a Freising native - he grew up in Freising from the age of 7 and has been a member of Freising's town council since 2002 and has steered the city's fortunes as Lord Mayor since 2012. He is regularly at the HSWT on official business, for example, when he greets students at events or presents awards to graduates as mayor. And, of course, the University of Applied Sciences can count on his support as a member of the sponsoring association. But he is also drawn to the campus grounds in his private life: He particularly enjoys the beautiful grounds on Weihenstephaner Berg and is looking forward to the future arboretum, where he firmly intends to visit his tree regularly.
Eschenbacher is convinced that the questions that point to the future of our society are asked at the University of Applied Sciences. One of them is: How can we react sustainably to climate change? In this context, it is also interesting for Freising to know which trees will be able to cope with the climate conditions in our latitudes in 50 years - and thus be considered for urban greening. The sponsor tree will accordingly be one of these future-proof variants. Mayor Eschenbacher and the HSWT are mutually taking up the challenge of creating a liveable environment in Freising. "The forestry sector particularly shows us today how much we can benefit from the decisions of our predecessors. It is not for nothing that the term sustainability comes from forest management," Tobias Eschenbacher explains. He knows how important it is to keep an eye on the effects of our actions today on future generations: "We have to reflect even more on the ecological, economic and social consequences of our decisions!"
With this in mind, the city uses 100 per cent green electricity. There is a climate protection manager who, for example, helps homeowners with energy issues, examines the city's solar energy potential and develops appropriate climate protection concepts. But the mayor also tries to contribute to climate protection himself - for example, when he eats consciously, avoids waste and leaves his car at home. "I don't need a car in Freising," says the likeable city leader. And if you keep your eyes open, you will certainly spot him on his bike on campus.
Distribution: South and south-eastern Europe to the Near East.
Size: 10 metres high and 6 to 8 metres wide
Leaves: deciduous, alternate, 6 to 12 cm long, leathery, yellowish brown in autumn, occasionally reddish
Fruits: acorns half in cup, cup strongly surrounded by filamentous, protruding scales
