South of Parchim is the largest Douglas fir stand in Central Europe. This conifer, native to North America, was first planted here 100 years ago. Thanks to favorable growing conditions, the Douglas firs, with their height of 58 meters, even tower over Parchim's St. George's and St. Mary's churches.
They are tall, fast-growing, evergreen and actually native to the area from southern Canada to Mexico - the Douglas firs. South of Parchim, however, in the Sonnenberg urban forest area, there is a Douglas fir stand which, according to the local forestry authority, is one of the richest in terms of wood mass in Europe. 1,500 solid cubic meters per hectare of harvestable wood have grown here. More than 100 years ago, the former forest senator Wilhelm Evers planted Douglas fir seedlings on around three hectares of forest, having previously tested the conifers for their suitability for use. Today, Douglas firs account for ten percent of the 3,000-hectare city forest.On request, the city forestry administration offers guided tours. By the way, the latest measurements show that the tallest Douglas fir in the forest area measures 58 meters, and the strongest is 22 solid meters.
For those who want to explore the forest area on their own, the signposted parking lot on the Sonnenberg is a good starting point.
