As examples, the head of the district administration cited the district's fruit-growing advisory service as well as the maintenance measures in the Stromberg nature park, landscape conservation and bird sanctuary and at the Bromberg farms, the latter in cooperation with the Landscape Conservation Association (LEV). In addition, the Environmental and Nature Conservation Foundation of Kreissparkasse Ludwigsburg has so far provided the Sachsenheim orchard project with a total of 15,000 euros for the years 2018 to 2020 for the pruning and replanting of orchard trees and the suppression of mistletoe infestation. According to the head of the district administration, the district of Ludwigsburg is one of the traditional focal points of orchard cultivation in Baden-Württemberg. It ranks fourth in the state with almost 400,000 fruit trees, which is remarkable given the dense population and the high proportion of arable land in the district. Roughly speaking, around six percent or 4,000 hectares of the district's area is still covered by orchards, around three quarters of which are protected landscape areas.
"Fruit trees and orchards still shape the landscape in our district, balancing the soil, water and climate, providing a treasure trove of biodiversity, an important cultural landscape, local recreation areas and points of identification," said District Administrator Haas. He was all the more pleased about the planting of the orchard trees along the Kirbachtal avenue. "This is an excellent initiative that will help to ensure that the Kirbachtal-Allee will once again enrich the landscape." Haas continued: "In addition to the aforementioned commitment of the district and the Kreissparkasse, the commitment of the towns and municipalities, the Stückle owners, the farmers, the fruit growers, the cideries, the schnapps distillers and the local juice and cider drinkers is indispensable. I would therefore like to say a special thank you to the exemplary local initiative as part of the Sachsenheim orchard project and to those involved from the Kleinsachsenheim and Großsachsenheim fruit and horticultural associations, the town council and other cooperation partners."
The Speierling is a species of plant from the genus of the rowan family.It is considered a wild fruit tree and is one of the rarest tree species in Germany.1993 the Speierling was voted tree of the year due to its declining population. It grows to a height of 10 to 20 meters, sometimes even 30 meters, with a broad crown in old age. It can live up to 600 years. If the fruit is harvested unripe, its juice is bitter and is added in small quantities to cider to increase its taste and shelf life. The ripe, rotten-looking fruit is sugary sweet and tastes similar to marzipan; it is used as the basis for jam, cider and brandy.
