Kassel (dpa/lhe) – There are a particularly large number of acorns in Hesse’s forests this autumn. Such a so-called mast year, in which trees produce abundant fruit, occurs with the oak about every two to four years, said the spokeswoman for the state authority Hessen Forest, Michelle Sundermann, in Kassel. Overall, she assumed a mast year that was slightly above average, with fully hanging oaks, especially in the south.
“The acorns seem to have survived the drought of the summer well. They are a little smaller in poorly water-supplied locations, but still make a healthy impression,” the spokeswoman continued. A stress reaction or “emergency mast” triggered by drought is currently not seen. According to the Naturschutzbund Hessen (Nabu), one consequence of the smaller acorns could be that they are less vital and the seedling dies more easily.
According to Hessen Forst, the acorns are not collected across the board in order to use them for targeted planting of young trees, for example. With certain exceptions, only so-called seed stocks in the forest may be used for this purpose.
Walkers should leave the acorns in the forest because “the animals are happy about it,” said the Hesse forest spokeswoman. “But it doesn’t hurt to take a few with you to grow an oak tree in the garden, there are actually enough of them.”
