180807_SAS_BM
    by Andrew Spears

 

The second day in Muskau Park we were better oriented as a team and attacked field work with a two-pronged approach. Kazu collected visual information on the changes in path condition, as we had been interested in the road construction originally laid by Puckler, but quickly realised that studying the path in section would not be a realistic opportunity. Heather and I started collecting data on what eventually became an index of ~60 significant trees adjacent to pathways closest to the trails of our itinerary. This took us deep into the Polish side of the park where management changed, the forest changed, large divits in the earth appeared, and the topography and soil evened out. I began to notice a significant usage of Beech and Oak trees to frame views, to shade triangular path intersections, and to mark a significant place in the park. Hermann's Oak and the remaining trees of the Odin's Oaks especially stood out, as they sat atop the Golden Heights and likely originally stood like sentinels at almost the highest level in the park, with a grand view towards the Palace.