In Best there will be a primary school made of poplars from the village itself. Next week, 107 trees will be cut down. It does justice to the history of the village. “Best is a poplar village. The poplar is in the genes of the Bestaar,” says René Westerlaken of the Brabant Poplar Association. He is therefore pleased that his own school is now being built.
Traditionally, many poplars grew in Best for the clog and match industries. “Best has the nickname of clog village during carnival. Eighty percent of the population here had something to do with the clog. Whether they were farmers or the many clog makers who were here. The largest clog factory in the Netherlands was in Best.”
Nowadays that is different. The wood from the trees is now usually shredded and brought to China. But not these poplars. Now we are building again with Bestse’s own wood.
The trees on the Sint-Oedenrodeseweg in Best will be cut down from next week. Then they have to dry first. The trees are then sawn, planed and further treated. After nine months they are ready for construction.
“Almost all of Best is full of poplars.”
Director Marieke Snoeks of De Heydonck primary school was tipped off by the mayor to use the wood from Best. “Almost all of Best is full of poplars. I think it is important that the children understand that you have to be careful with nature, with the earth. And that you should use local entrepreneurs in the area.”
The wood of the poplars will be clearly visible inside and outside the school. “The outside will soon be covered with planks. And we are going to use wooden pillars. You also see wooden cladding on the inside.”
“We think that the poplars will be used more and more for construction.”
The Brabant Poplar Association thinks it’s fantastic. “We are becoming increasingly economical in the places where we live and work,” says René Westerlaken. Poplars that used to stand along the A2 have been used before. For bridges and benches, but also for the new building of the Best Zoo zoo. “We think that the poplars will be used more and more for construction.”
To complete the circle, schoolchildren in Best will plant new poplars again during National Arbor Day. 107 young trees will return. “In 25 years they can be harvested and the children who planted them will be mom and dad themselves. They then take their children to harvest these trees.”
The building should be ready in early 2025.
