"Additional fruit trees in private gardens or on commercial land are valuable for nature and species conservation in the city and contribute to the biotope network," explains David Baier, Head of the Office for the Environment and Urban Greenery. "In spring, they provide nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies and other insects. They also provide natural shade on hot summer days and improve the microclimate," says Baier.

The fruit tree program adopted with the climate plan will initially run as a concentrated campaign this autumn: The Office for the Environment and Urban Greenery will take care of procuring the young trees and allocate them free of charge to garden owners* and tenants* in Bonn. Interested parties can apply in advance for a maximum of two trees. In total, the city will provide up to 1,000 fruit trees for the campaign.

The trees are planned to be distributed in November, as this month is particularly suitable for planting fruit trees. In the fall, the trees have already lost most of their leaves and put their energy into root formation. For the campaign, the Office for the Environment and Urban Greenery provides half-stems of different types of fruit trees, which can generally reach a height and width of up to five meters.

The city will provide information about the exact course of the campaign and the application options in September.