Natural monuments in Freiburg and Kirchheim-Wendlingen

They are regarded as “ambassadors of environmental awareness” – natural monuments are landscape elements that are under nature protection and are special from the point of view of the authorities.

Lime trees from 1648 at GC Kirchheim-Wendlingen

In Baden-Württemberg, two golf courses stand out with their unusual trees: In the GC Kirchheim-Wendlingen there is an old small-leaved lime tree from 1648 on the side of hole 9. It was planted as a peace lime tree after the 30-year war and was the final tree in an avenue of lime trees on the way down to Bodelshofen. It has been considered a natural monument since 1941, although for safety reasons it has since had to lose its crown and branches. A replacement planting has long been planted in Kirchheim Wendlingen. On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the golf club, another lime tree was planted in the immediate vicinity, which is now also prominent.

The lime trees at Freiburger GC

At Freiburger Golf Club, the three huge lime trees also immediately catch the eye, which are marked there as natural monuments and characterize the respective fairways. The accumulation of three natural monuments at the same time on a golf course is unusual and otherwise never occurs again in Germany.

The protection of natural monuments is regulated in Section 28 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act in Germany. In addition to individual trees, natural formations or special areas can also be designated as natural monuments. The Lower Nature Conservation Authority assesses whether a plant or tree can be designated a natural monument.

Register natural monuments

So it is quite possible that there are natural monuments on other golf courses. Anyone interested in having these categorized as natural monuments should contact the authorities. In principle, however, natural monuments may no longer be altered once they have received this classification. On the other hand, they prove the exemplary care of nature on the respective golf course.