The Hiroshima Memorial Grove in Hanover was laid out on the Alte Bult between 1987 and 1989 to commemorate the 110,000 direct victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945 with 110 Japanese cherry trees. The site of the former racecourse now serves as a nature reserve and memorial. Every spring during the cherry blossom season, the grove is transformed into a popular meeting place for hanami picnics and the traditional cherry blossom festival, which celebrates German-Japanese friendship with Japanese tea ceremonies, calligraphy, martial arts and culinary specialities.