Dresden (dpa/sn) - The trunk of a dead copper beech in the Pillnitz Castle Park should serve as a memorial for the consequences of climate change in the coming years. This tree had not survived the drought summers of recent years and therefore had to be felled. The torso was artistically designed by the sculptors Hans-Georg Wagner and Paul Jacob on behalf of the State Palaces, Castles and Gardens of Saxony and presented to the public on Thursday. "I want to create insights and prospects and also provide the opportunity for perspective," said Wagner, describing his concept.
By 2021, two giant copper beeches at the park's northwest entrance had caught the eye of guests. The majestic trees were planted in 1895 and dominated one side of the pleasure garden between the mountain palace and the water palace. According to Schloesserland's plans, a genetically identical descendant of the dead tree is to be planted again in the same place in about seven to ten years. Until then, the memorial will become a place of remembrance.
"With the artistic design, we would like to draw our guests' attention to the serious effects of climate change on our garden monuments, which are currently changing the visual impact of the gardens in a serious way and at great speed," explained Claudius Wecke. At Schloesserland he heads the "Climate change in historical gardens" project funded by the Federal Ministry of Research. By the end of 2024, a series of measures to adapt to climate change and to increase the resilience of the Great Garden in Dresden and the Pillnitz Palace Park are to be implemented.
