The first Burgerbos in Brabant has been planted in the outskirts of Loon op Zand. Almost four football fields with trees and shrubs must be a real forest in fifty years. “I think it’s exciting to see what it will look like here in ten years’ time,” says Anya van de Ven, who came up with the plan. The small saplings are now still protected with plastic tubes.
Anya opens the gate to the new forest with a combination lock. “This forest came about thanks to 260 donations from citizens and companies,” she begins. “Many people find forests important for fresh air. But not everyone can buy a piece of land and start a forest.”
With contributions of 10 or 100 euros, the Green Development Fund Brabant can plant civilian forests. “All those small contributions make a forest.”
Anya is not only hoping for more fresh air in Brabant. She also hopes for animals that can move easily and without obstacles. “With Burgerbossen we want to connect pieces of nature. We want to create a network, because these forests must be spread throughout Brabant.”
“In fifty years it will only be a real forest.”
Anyone who thinks that the forest will be completely ready in a year is wrong. “It is a matter of patience,” Anya begins. “In fifty years it will only be a real forest.”
Why not plant large trees right away, so that you immediately have a forest? “That seems like a good solution, but it isn’t. If you plant trees here that have been raised in the nursery with lots of compost and water, you get spoiled trees. They don’t like it here.”
“That is why we planted small trees. They can adapt to the conditions here. Then you get a beautiful forest, but it just takes a while.”
“We have to see where a piece of forest makes sense.”
According to Anya, the Burgerbos will be an adolescent forest in ten years time. “The trees are already nice and big, but not yet mature. The shrubs then really form a forest and the trees just peep above it.”
The first Burgerbos is 1.7 hectares in size. That should be 5000 times as much: 9000 hectares. “We have been working on this forest for two years. You have to buy a piece of land and find donors. That all takes a lot of time.”
A forest cannot be planted everywhere. “Forest is very valuable nature, but in some places a field or a meadow is better for birds. So we really need to see where a piece of forest makes sense.”