Halle's Green Revival: 54 New Trees Planted Thanks to Local Sponsors
Halle (Saale) Thanks Its Tree Sponsors for Making the City Greener
On Saturday, the city of Halle (Saale) expressed its gratitude to the individuals who are quite literally helping to make the city greener: its tree sponsors.
René Rebenstorf, the city's deputy mayor for urban development, environment, and public safety, was visibly moved by the dedication of Halle's residents. "Without this outstanding civic engagement, we simply would not be able to achieve the scale of tree replacement and climate-resilient urban design that we have today," Rebenstorf emphasized in his speech.
An Impressive Record of Commitment
The figures presented by the Environmental Office for the current season speak volumes. In the last planting period alone, 52 tree sponsors enabled the planting of 54 new trees. Each sponsor contributed at least €300 to sustainably enhance the city's landscape.
But a closer look at the statistics reveals that this is no short-lived trend—it is a deeply rooted tradition:
Since 2017, a total of 495 sponsors have been recruited. During this time, 598 trees have already been planted with private support.
"It is very important to me that we convey these numbers properly," said Rebenstorf. "Behind every tree, there is a story—whether it's a tribute to a loved one or the desire to replace a familiar street tree in front of someone's home after it has died."
A Symbol of Appreciation: The Wooden Tree
As a special token of thanks, this year's attendees did not receive a traditional certificate but instead a symbolic wooden tree as a keepsake of their contribution. "We wanted to create something lasting that would remind people of their commitment today," explained the deputy mayor. With a smile, he added, "Earlier, I had a little mental slip and talked about saplings—but these wonderful wooden trees are what we're giving as a sign of our appreciation."
Of course, a professional note could not be missing on "Tree Day": the aspen has been named the official Tree of the Year for 2026. For urban development, however, every tree planted is a gain. "We do our best to make the most of the city budget, even though it's not always easy. But every tree we can plant—and that we hope will one day grow tall—matters."
Call for the Next Season
The city of Halle will continue to rely on its citizens in the future. All the trees for the current season have already been planted, and in the coming days, the final sponsorship plaques will be installed. But planning for the next round is already underway.
René Rebenstorf concluded the event with heartfelt thanks to the Environmental Office team and a direct appeal to all residents of Halle: "I'm already promoting the next season now. Anyone who wants to help shape our city—for whatever reason—is warmly welcome. Together, we are making Halle fit for climate change."
Mayor Dr. Alexander Vogt noted that tree sponsorships are one of the few ways the city can still take active measures. Given the budget situation, he added, without these donations, no new trees could be planted at all.
