Schönow students decorate Märkische Kiefer as a Christmas greeting in the Bundestag

Schönow students decorate Märkische Kiefer as a Christmas greeting in the Bundestag

On December 4, 2025, an approximately four meter tall Märkische pine from the Schönower Heide was ceremoniously handed over in the Paul-Löbe-Haus in Berlin. Students from Schönow Elementary School decorated the Christmas tree with a lot of creativity. Her work not only reflects the connection to nature, but also carries an important message about global sustainability goals.

The tree was created by Dr. Aija Torkler, the director of the Barnim Nature Park, and the former district administrator Friedrich Heuwinkel, President of the Association of German Nature Parks. V., officially handed over to Omid Nouripour, Deputy President of the German Bundestag. During the handover, the group of students sang the traditional song “In Silent Night”, a beautiful gesture to celebrate Advent.

Commitment to nature

The pine tree was felled as part of landscape conservation measures to keep the heathland open. This is an important step towards preserving the ecosystem in the Schönower Heide, which has been a military training area since the early 20th century and was declared a nature conservation and fauna-flora-habitat area in 2000. The tree also symbolizes the greeting of the National Natural Landscapes to Parliament and underlines the great importance of these protected areas.

The Barnim Nature Park is part of a comprehensive alliance of 104 nature parks, 16 national parks and many other protected areas in Germany that actively strive to preserve nature and sustainable development. The tree was therefore presented to the Bundestag as a greeting from 141 national natural landscapes.

A day full of joy

The decoration of the tree is a truly creative highlight: pendants made of clay, fox faces made from dried orange peels, stars made from toilet paper rolls, gnomes made from leftover wool and poinsettias from the sewing group made the tree shine. In advance of the event, the students were able to share their thoughts on closeness to nature with those in attendance, reinforcing the connection between education and environmental protection. A visit from MP Stefan Zierke was also organized, who promised the school class an insight into the plenary hall and the Reichstag dome.

Hannah, a student at Schönow elementary school, described the day as a special one and reported on the great experiences in the Bundestag. After the handover, one or two selfies had to be taken with Omid Nouripour, which understandably filled the children with joy.

The Schönow primary school, which is considered the first nature park school in Barnim, maintains close cooperation with the Schönower-Heide-Verein. This shows how important local involvement is in order to promote awareness of environmental and nature conservation at an early stage.

One tree, many stories - the Christmas tree not only contributes to the festive atmosphere in Berlin, but is also a symbol of the active work of the nature parks and their schools in the interests of nature and a sustainable future.

For more information about the ceremony and the tree, read the reports on Barnim Current and that Barnim Nature Park.