07 January 2021, Rhineland-Palatinate, Niederwerth: On the Rhine island of Niederwerth, a 500-metre-long deadwood hedge erected by the Landesbetrieb Mobilitat is being razed to the ground, which should never have been built in the first place. Because of flood protection, no building permit had been granted for the hedge of branches, twigs and green cuttings. According to the taxpayers' association, the construction and demolition of the hedge together cost more than 30,000 euros. The federation had denounced the case as an example of wasteful handling of tax money in last year's black book. Photo: Thomas Frey/dpa