In Germany, you can send a letter to a tree

For years, a 150-year-old chestnut named "Jüchtwind" received letters from anyone who needed a listening ear - or branch.

Expressing concerns, love stories or the latest neighborhood gossip, some 6,000 letters were written to Jüchtwind. According to local letter carrier Ekrem Dönder, even Chancellor Angela Merkel sent a letter two years ago to the chestnut located in the Himmelgeist nature reserve.

Last winter, the chestnut fell ill and had to be felled. Starting Thursday, a new young tree will be accepting letters in its place, under the name "Erona." Those who write will even get a hand-written reply from Erona - that is, from 11-year-old local Leni Classen (pictured above).

Dönder told German news agency dpa that letters to the tree have arrived from as far away as New Zealand, China and Australia.

While the tree has been swapped out, the address remains the same:

Kleine Himmelgeister Kastanie
Kölner Weg
40589 Düsseldorf
Germany

According to the website representing the original tree, it held particular significance because local residents made great efforts to keep it from being cut down. Not only did the tree survive both World Wars, signature campaigns spared it from falling victim to various construction projects.

The Dusseldorf chestnut is not entirely unqiue. As DW reported, a tree in Melbourne, Australia, also receives letters.

kbm/rb (with dpa)