5/5 Chris M. 9 months ago on Google • 414 reviews
The
forest
laboratory
has
existed
in
Cologne
near
the
Decksteiner
Weiher
in
the
south-west
of
the
city
since
2010.
The
aim
here
is
to
gain
knowledge
about
the
future
design
options
for
our
forests
through
the
planting
of
various
tree
and
shrub
species,
as
well
as
answers
to
the
question
of
how
climate
change
will
affect
forestry.
The
forest
laboratory,
which
has
a
total
area
of
25
hectares,
offers
space
for
16
hectares
of
forest
(the
remaining
areas
must
remain
clear
of
trees,
for
example
for
cable
routes
or
paths)
into
four
zones:
change
forest,
climate
forest,
energy
forest
and
wilderness
forest.
A
circular
path
on
chopped
wood
leads
through
the
changing
forest
with
different
types
of
trees,
and
the
names
of
tree
sponsors
are
recorded
on
plaques
on
steles.
The
wilderness
forest
at
the
eastern
tip
opposite
is
left
to
its
own
devices;
Although
it
would
be
"visitable",
there
is
now
hardly
any
way
to
get
in
there.
In
the
climate
forest,
six
tree
species
are
tested
for
their
tolerance
to
the
changing
climate.
In
the
energy
forest,
on
the
other
hand,
various,
fast-growing
trees
are
grown
that
are
“harvested”
at
regular
intervals
and
processed
into
wood
chips.
A
gravel
path
leads
through
the
entire
complex,
allowing
you
to
wonderfully
observe
the
different
zones.
There
are
always
benches
that
invite
you
to
linger.
The
noise
level
on
the
nearby
motorway
is
usually
pleasantly
low
so
that
you
can
really
relax.
Tip:
Just
sit
on
a
bench
between
the
forest
and
the
forest
laboratory
and
try
to
count
how
many
birds
you
hear.
Display
boards
in
various
places
and
at
the
entrance
explain
in
a
way
that
children
can
understand
where
you
are,
which
trees
can
be
seen
there
and
what
they
are
all
about.
For
me,
the
forest
laboratory
is
a
clear
alternative
to
the
path
around
the
Decksteiner
Weiher
next
door,
which
is
often
very
overpopulated,
especially
on
warm
weekend
days.
