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One-off utilisation of the hornbeams
In Germany, the sheep deciduous trees epitomise an unusual and traditional use of the common hornbeam. In times gone by, when the grass that grew back in autumn was no longer sufficient to feed the sheep, the inhabitants of Nanzenbach used a remarkable trick. They cut off the delicate branches of the autumn hornbeams while the sap was already flowing back into the roots. In this way, the trees did not bleed out and provided a valuable source of food for the cattle. The branches were placed in the stables, where the sheep feasted on the lush foliage while ignoring the tender twigs.
This ingenious approach benefited the people of Nanzenbach, because in those days it was forbidden to light a fire in the home oven to bake bread due to the high risk of fire. The bread was baked communally in the bakehouse, and a considerable amount of thin branches were needed to heat the oven - precisely those that remained untouched by the sheep.
This unique form of hornbeam utilisation should have been listed as a historical monument, but this was neglected. As the trees are no longer used as sheep deciduous trees today, but their preservation represents an important cultural asset for Nanzenbach, the fruit and horticultural association is dedicated to the care and preservation of these remarkable trees.
Translated by DeepL (www.deepl.com).
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touristinfo@dillenburg.de
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