New nature near or on farmland: it is a scenario that can cause tension. Not so with the redevelopment of the Drostendiep between Zweeloo and Erm. Here it is the farmers who have taken the lead in nature development in this area. The world turned upside down or smart common sense?
Like so many streams in Drenthe, the Drostendiep had to bow to agriculture in the years after the Second World War. As a result, the waterway is interrupted here and there, partly filled in and straightened here and there to promote rapid water drainage. Because that’s what the farmers care about. It came to a turning point in 2014 when heavy rainfall caused flooding.
The farmers then decided to turn to the water board to find a solution. Gradually, the province and Natuurmonumenten were also involved. Where initially a water storage function was the starting point, after years of planning, 300 hectares of new nature has been created. “The province still has a task in the context of Nature Network Netherlands (NNN)”, says dairy farmer and project group chairman Geert Smits.
As stated, the farmers involved in the Broeklanden sub-area (where they are the landowners) are responsible for nature management themselves. In this way they kill two birds with one stone, according to Smits and fellow farmer Robert Pierik. When it rains, the nuisance remains within limits and the area is preserved for farmers.
Smits: “Suppose a swampy area was chosen, such as the Geeserstroom. As a farmer, you can no longer do anything with the soil.” For example, an extremely wet area requires the purchase of other, heavier equipment.
That is why the group advocated a meadow bird area. For example, animals can be grazed. There is a fee for management (including mowing). Pierik: “On the other hand, the management must yield results. Breeding pairs must be present in the area between now and six years.” According to Pierik, the partnership between the parties involved is unique in the Netherlands. “They have even visited us from Friesland to see how we do things here,” he smiles.
The project concerning the approach to the Drostendiep covers three sub-areas. From north to south these are the Westerstroom, the Huismates and the Broeklanden. In the north, the province and Natuurmonumenten have already made some adjustments to the area. Land purchases have been made there since the 1990s.
According to Eric Mengveld of Natuurmonumenten, the top layer of the ground will be removed. The impoverishment ensures varied plant growth. The existing vegetation will be further removed and ditches will be made shallower. The area is getting wetter again. The stream is further provided with a fish ladder.
The biggest intervention takes place in the middle: the Huismates. The ditch (Boksloot) that runs through the area will be partly filled in and a new, meandering waterway will be constructed as Nieuwe Drostendiep towards the Verlengde Hoogeveense Vaart near Erm. Only the part around Havezathe De Klencke will not be tackled because of the necessary water drainage there.
The part that will soon be maintained by the farmers (Broeklanden) will have to wait the longest for new bends in the waterway. According to project leader Tjeerd Dijkstra of the Vechtstromen Water Board, the purchase of 10 hectares of agricultural land is still necessary. “Discussions with these parties are still ongoing.” The new route has already been drawn in pencil on the map.