The first fruit trees were planted in Leisepark in 2020, others were added by Peace of Land e.V. in 2023, they are growing, thriving and thirsty for water.

It was a joint planting campaign with godparents for each tree, organised by me, salzundhonig, and my bee friend Patrick Lindhof in cooperation with Mathias Kraatz from the Green Party. The godparents are Kita Glühwürmchen, Stefan Gelbhaar, some beekeepers or parents with their children have taken care of the planting of 14 fruit trees, many apples, cherries, pears, plums and damsons.

The costs were covered by the public fundraising campaign and an irrigation system with a hose was temporarily installed to bring water from the cemetery to the trees. However, this had to be dismantled in 2022, as Mr Olaf Bartenstein, the cemetery administrator of the Berlin Stadtmitte Protestant Cemetery Association, still does not accept a lump sum for the cost of the water and does not want to install a water meter. So every year it is a matter of anxiety and suffering with the fruit trees when weeks pass without rain in summer.

We started pruning the trees in 2024 with a workshop and Mr Modest from the Parks Department is still pruning the trees today.

Every year, the bees and wild bees have had plenty to eat from all the blossoms on the fruit trees, while we humans have only tasted very few fruits. In 2024, someone unknown picked all the fruit in its green state and threw it away – oh yes – it’s a public place! We love and advocate the regulation of mouth picking. Anyone can pick an apple and must leave some hanging for the next hungry person.

There is always something to do in spring, summer and autumn, be it chopping the tree slice, transporting water to the trees and lovingly caressing the trees.

If you would like to support our campaign, you are welcome to donate at any time via Paypal to s@salzundhonig.de, friends and family, and write Donation Leisepark in the subject line. The money will be used to buy tools, labelling and materials, and a solution for the water supply is being sought. Tips and ideas welcome.

Leisepark is a former cemetery site that has been transformed into a wild and beautiful park. Children shouting on one side, silence and devotion on the cemetery side, which is bordered by a fence.

Leisepark in Berlin, Heinrich-Roller-Straße 24, 10405 Berlin. Directions & opening hours

Photos: Silke Meyer & photographers in the picture credits