Copper Beech – New variety travels around the world

"A truly remarkable variety of the European beech is the copper beech, whose foliage distinguishes it from others of the species. The leaves, fiery red in spring, turn brownish red in autumn. The progenitor of this beech is in the forest near Sondershausen."
(Heinrich Wilhelm Döbels, newly published Jäger-Practica, 4. Auflage, 1828)

The majestic 250-year-old copper beech in 2006 (Photographer: S. Nöbel)

Young copper beech calls giant trees to mind

Since 2016 a young copper beech has been growing in this place where its imposing ancestor once stood. The 250-year-old beech had the distinction of being the first offspring of the mother beech from the forest close to Sonderhausen. Over the years this species of beech with the red leaves became a highly popular tree for parks. The seedlings were sold beyond the borders of the Kyffhäuser region all the way to Hyde Park in England.

Long stretches of the wall near the copper beech had crumbled. Today, thanks to the engagement of the village and many hard-working helpers, the wall has been restored. In earlier times peach trees were trellised in the arches. (Photographer: L. Koch)

Line of sight over the walls into the landscape

From this point you have a very special view. On one side you see the wall, which once enclosed the entire 21-hectare park and remains nearly complete today. In the other direction you can follow the line of sight all the way to the New Palace. The view has been opened up again and most of the collapsed wall has been restored, thanks to the engagement of Bendeleben residents who have worked untiringly on behalf of their park for many decades.

The history of Bendeleben Palace Park

• 1765 - Johann Jacob von Uckermann had the park put in next to his estate.
• 1860 - Wilhelm von Krause, owner of the estate since 1849, had the new palace built.
• about 1920 - Wilhelm Hugo Ernst von Krause built a bathhouse, riding arena and tennis court.
• about 1930 - Alexandra von Arnim (adopted daughter of von Krause) established a seed breeding business.
• 1945 - The government expropriated the von Krause family from palace, park and seed breeding business
• 1960 -The old rows of linden trees were felled. A pond was put in at the front of the palace.
• since 1990 - The von Arnim family returned to the estate. The new palace is a nursing home. The park remains public property.
• 2015 - The 250th anniversary of the palace park was celebrated in baroque style in Bendeleben.

General map of Bendeleben Palace Park
© blattwerk bremen

Bilder

A young copper beech was planted at the foot of the old tree in 2016 (Photographer: L. Koch)

View through the park toward the New Palace (Photographer: U. Behr)