Among the Trees of Sihlfeld

An urban walk from Albisrieden to Aussersihl that puts Zurich’s trees centre stage: from yew and black walnut to dawn redwood, along with the challenges posed by the urban climate.

From the Zürich, Hubertus stop, this urban walk leads through Albisrieden. Almost imperceptibly, the route reaches its highest point at around 420 m. The Norway maple and tree of heaven on Albisriederstrasse, as well as the black walnut on Gutstrasse, draw attention to tree species that often go unnoticed in everyday life.

In Sihlfeld, the European yew and Caucasian spruce take centre stage. The route was created for the exhibition «Trees in the City» and designed by Grün Stadt Zürich. It presents trees as witnesses to history and part of the cultural heritage, while also highlighting the pressures they face from limited root space, heat, drought and pests. At the municipal nursery, the pedunculate oak and dawn redwood are added to the mix.

Continuing eastwards, the route leads through densely built-up neighbourhoods and across occasional green islands. Black locust and hybrid larch grow in Hardaupark, while a maple-leaved plane stands at Bullingerhof. The route continues via Erismannhof and Bäckeranlage to Aussersihl; near Kanzleiwiese, the final notable tree is the aspen by the Kanzlei school building. A few steps later, the walk ends at the Zürich, Helvetiaplatz stop.