Fallen West Frisian trees cause considerable damage: more than 500,000 euros

The Hoogheemraadschap Hollands Noorderkwartier (HHNK) has announced that about 440 trees in West Friesland had to be felled this year alone. This is due to illness or old age: trees that have become limp and vulnerable. The three storms in February also caused considerable damage. “In our region, about 90 trees have been destroyed by storm or as a result of this storm, of which 30 are on the Tuinstraat in Hauwert.”

So a ‘battlefield’ in Hauwert. Many trees had already partly fallen over the road, sometimes root and all and sometimes because they had broken off at the trunk. “They blocked the roads and posed a danger to traffic. Tree roots cause pressure on the pavement and damage asphalt and verges. That is no fun for cables and pipes in the ground.”

Also in Stede Broec, Enkhuizen and Drechterland 85 trees collapsed due to the storm. “Because we regularly check our tree stock for diseases and age, it mainly concerns healthy trees that have been blown over or damaged”, spokesperson Ilma Tjeertes explains.

In Koggenland there were 27. For the safety of cyclists and motorists. But also because of emergency cover. “Some trees remain, but we can see from the cracks in the ground, for example, that they may blow over in the next storm,” said spokesman Ellen Basjes. “Our aim is to put at least one other tree back somewhere else in Koggenland for every tree felled.”

Tree felling due to illness or old age

It wasn’t just storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin that had to give way to trees. Trees were also cut down because they are sick or old. There are many tree diseases in the Netherlands. Ash branch death and Dutch elm disease, for example, are common in West Friesland. An old or diseased tree has to be cut down, because otherwise it can fall over and is therefore not safe for society.

In January, 184 trees were cut down in Medemblik and Enkhuizen because they were in poor condition and posed a risk to the road. According to Hoogheemraadschap spokesperson Jorrit Voet, because of the danger to traffic. “Along a number of roads there were quite a few trees, so it has become a bare purpose,” he admits honestly. “These trees will be planted back as much as possible next fall.”

A month later, 167 trees along Dijkgraaf Grootweg in Andijk and Esdoornlaan in Grootebroek were removed. Ash and willow trees in particular, which were affected by the ash branch disease, had to give way.

“The only thing we can do to prevent the spread of ash tree death as much as possible is to remove diseased trees,” explains Voet. “That way you prevent more victims.”

These are mainly willows and elms that are resistant to Dutch elm disease. “A lot of thought is being given to which trees can survive where.”

replant

Even if trees are lost or are cut down after a storm or disease, they must be replaced within those three years. “After the felling, the replanting of this area will start immediately,” says Vloet. “About 305 trees have been replanted, so there are more trees than have been felled. These are young trees, so they are not yet the length of the old trees. That will take a few more years.”

In the autumn, the Hoogheemraadschap makes a tour of the fields to plant trees at suitable growing locations. It is not yet clear which locations are involved. “We use the tree out, new tree back principle as much as possible. And if the location allows it, we plant extra trees back.”

Cleaning up a lot of work

Residents regularly complain about fallen trees that remain in place for a long time until they are cleared. When asked whether there is a priority list, Vloet responds: “The roads will be cleared for traffic as soon as possible. The priority lies with the most vulnerable participant, the cyclist. In this way we prioritize all our work, but also cleaning up the trees and branches.”

The road inspectors of the Hoogheemraadschap therefore drive daily on the roads and continue to report the places where trees or branches are left behind. “But with more than 1,000 kilometers of roads, it is a logistical operation to clean up everything. We want to do this as efficiently as possible, so not send a truck for every heap of branches. Branches that are safely along the side must then be removed.” sometimes stay a little longer, but now everything is as good as gone.”

Basjes (Koggenland) also agrees. “Safety comes first and if there is a tree on the road, it is removed as quickly as possible. Trees that have ended up in the ditch are the last to be dealt with. “Some trees therefore still have to be cleared. This will be done next week.”