Zug,15.03.2018

Last two of 30 remaining trees felled

The last two out of 30 trees standing in the way of the site planned for the National Swiss-Wrestling and Alpine Festival (Esaf) in 2019 have been felled. Not that it was any night-time cloak-and-dagger operation, the owner of the farmland in question knew of their fate and supports the wrestling event himself.
 
As Heinz Tännler, who is not only the cantonal director of finance but also the chairman of Esaf’s organising committee, said, “It was known from the outset that they would have to go as they stood in the centre of the planned arena.” He went on to explain that it was only now that they have been felled as the owner of the land, Philipp Freimann, wanted these last two trees kept as long as possible, after 28 others had already been felled. Among the trees gone are those which produced apples, pears and cherries, which were subsequently harvested to make juice and spirits. Though they did more than this, they provided the right environment for other plants, and animal life was able to benefit, too, not least by providing shade for cows in the heat of summers. On the other hand, they were getting on in years and would have had to have been replaced in a few years’ time anyway.

New trees will be planted there after the tournament is over. In fact these have even been ordered, Esaf paying CHF 80 each for them. Once they are in the ground, much work will have to be done to ensure they are not damaged by mice or cows. The latter have to be provided with shade, otherwise animal protection societies would be on to the farmer.

As mentioned, Freimann supports the event and feels sure it will be most successful, though he could have managed without it.