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New tree of the year: Hagenow cemetery becomes a green oasis!
On December 2nd, 2025, the environmental group in Hagenow will plant the American red oak in the municipal cemetery to promote sustainability.
New tree of the year: Hagenow cemetery becomes a green oasis!
In Hagenow, tradition is very important - and not just with regard to the culture of mourning. Cemeteries are not only places of quiet remembrance, but also green oases that are worth exploring. Again Northern Courier reports, the parish council in Hagenow has set up an environmental group that has been actively involved in the design of the municipal cemetery for decades. This first Advent, a new tree was planted - the American red oak, which now contributes to the colorful flora of the cemetery.
There are currently 36 different tree species there, including English oak, ash and field maple. The number of trees is constantly growing and aims to benefit the environment and provide a shady spot for future generations. Because more trees not only mean more shade, but also a friendlier environment for the insect population.
An initiative for sustainability
The tree plantings are part of a comprehensive plan to make the cemetery more sustainable. A beautiful place where nature meets memories. The cemetery has been established at its current location since the 1830s; The graves were previously created around the church. However, cemeteries have changed significantly over time and now incorporate new forms of burial.
This change in burial culture is reflected not only in Hagenow, but also in many other cities in Germany. Deutschlandfunk reports that the number of cremations is constantly increasing and has now reached over 70%. This is not only for practical reasons - such as the lower maintenance intensity of urn graves - but also for economic reasons, as the costs of burials are continually increasing.
The cemeteries as places of retreat
In addition, the use of cemeteries is changing. They are increasingly being redesigned as resorts. In Frankfurt, for example, an area of the main cemetery is no longer used for graves, but instead functions as a retreat and biodiversity project. Biotopes and perennial gardens are created here, making the cemetery the green lung of the city, as Heike Appel, head of the green spaces office, emphasizes.
This development results in a clear trend: religious rituals are decreasing, while alternative forms of burial are becoming increasingly popular. Demographic changes and ongoing digitalization are also shaping the culture of mourning. Digitalized funeral ceremonies are no longer uncommon, while funeral services are increasingly coming to the fore, with sales in this area already exceeding two billion euros in 2019.
Overall, the trend is towards a more sustainable, natural burial culture. Half of the cemetery areas in Germany are no longer used for burials, a sign that people's values are changing.
The cemetery in Hagenow remains not only a place of remembrance, but also an example of the successful combination of nature and new living space. A little more green and a few new ideas – this is how the memory is kept alive.