The association of graduates and students of the Chair of Paper Technology at TU Dresden has made a generous donation to support the design of the campus and has contributed to the preservation of the trees on campus.

The pedunculate oak or English oak is one of the characteristic trees of German woodlands. This tree species can reach an age of 500 to 800 years and grow up to a height of 50 meters. In deciduous and mixed forests, it forms dense populations with hornbeam, birch or pine. It is planted as a single tree, in groups of trees and in hedges, and is often used for reforestation, greening and protective vegetation.

These perennial, deep-rooted trees stand out due to their broad crown with strong branches and their dark gray bark with meshed cracks. The tree’s taproot system grows down to considerable depths and often reaches into the groundwater. As a tree with deep roots, it needs a lot of downward space.

Oak wood is valuable lumber and is mainly used in shipbuilding, construction and cabinet making. Oak bark, rich in tannins, used to be traded as tanbark. It is still used for tanning leather today. In the past, livestock, in particular pigs, were driven into the forest to be fattened on acorns. The nutritious acorns are still used today to feed pigs and game. They are an important food source for many species of birds and mammals. For example, jays and squirrels spread the pedunculate oak by creating food depots. The pedunculate oak also provides food and habitats for many insect species and their larvae. Eight species of wild bees feed on the pollen of the blossoms. The leaves are invaluable for butterflies, since they serve as caterpillar food for a total of 32 species.