Spring is in the air... Tel Hadid, Ben-Shemen Forest al-Haditha One of KKL-JNFs oldest forests in Israel photos were taken February 5, 2008 The Ben Shemen forest is one of the oldest Jewish National Fund (JNF) reforestation projects in Israel, dating from the 1900s and named for its fame as an olive-producing region. One of the first olive oil factories established in Eretz Yisrael was in Ben Shemen, "Hadid" factory, later known as "Ben-Shemen". 100 Dunam were bought from the land of Haditha village (located north-east of Lod). The factory began working by the end of January 1906 in Ben Shemen (Hadid). The area was originally planted with olive trees to supply raw materials for the olive oil factory. The olive trees didn't take very well and not long after the forest was replanted with pines, cypresses and carobs. The "Shemen" factory moved to Haifa. Pine Trees in Ben Shemen Forest Ornithogalum lanceolatum, Star of Bethlehem, אזמלני נץ-חלב Lamium amplexicaule, Henbit deadnettle, נזמית לופתת Diplotaxis erucoides, White Wall-rocket, טוריים מצויים Anemone coronaria, Crown Anemone, כלנית מצויה Capsella bursapastoris, Sheperd's Purse, ילקוט הרועים Calendula arvensis, Field Marigold, צפורני-חתול מצויות Iris palaestina, Palestine Iris, איריס ארץ-ישראלי