It is still an empty pasture, surrounded by the dog shelter, flower bulb companies and a padel club, but if it is up to Ron Laan (32), a real village forest will be placed in the same place.
“There is very little green in West Friesland. Only the Streekbos in Bovenkarspel and some loose tufts forest at the forumer, but there are not really large pieces of forest in this region,” explains Laan.
Inspired Due to the Village Forest in Ursem to be arrivedhe decided to put on the bad shoes a year ago. As a potential location, Laan has a piece of land of twelve hectares on the eye along the Torenweg in him. “The landowner is willing to cooperate and is open to a different interpretation of his piece of land.”
Multifunctional
Laan sees the new forest completely in front of itself. “It will not be a park,” he says with a wink, “but a real forest with hiking trails and picnic benches, a nature playground and a food forest where school children can learn how vegetables, fruit and nuts grow.” It must also be a place where residents can walk, recreate or run. “Or a place where yoga classes can be given.”
Before there is a forest at all, Laan, together with volunteers, spread 2,500 flyers in him, Venhuizen, Hoogkarspel, Wijdenes and Oosterleek to pick up the wishes of residents. “I think that is important. That this idea is worn and conceived by the neighborhood.”
Hearing is indicated on the flyers brought around. “Nearly 700 inhabitants have completed this survey. Of these, 86 percent say they are in favor of a new forest,” says Laan. “That so many residents indicate that they want a forest, and are also open to it, I really find so cool. It also gives me energy to continue with this.”
To trust
The pronounced support from the surrounding villages is just the beginning, says Laan. “We are not there yet, but the necessary steps are being taken and I get help from all sides. We will set up a foundation in two weeks and the first sketches of the forest have already been made.”
He is confident that it will get off the ground here. “If it succeeds in Ursem, then it must also be possible here? Where there is a will, is a way. I really believe in this.”