Garden designer Wiecher Huisman has been working for 18 years on his Arcadia Arcadia Arcadia in Gasselte, but the tree garden appears to have been planted illegally there. According to the municipality of Aa and Hunze, the tree garden does not fit with the agricultural destination of the land, but Huisman does not have to remove his Arboretum.
The tree lover now has a garden that is full of trees and bushes from all over the world. When he wanted to expand 4 years ago and bought an adjacent pasture for it, the municipality knocked on the door. He wants Huisman to apply for a new permit for the Arboretum.
In 2007, Huisman planted his first tree on a former potato pack between Gieten and Gasselte: a Lebanese cedar. A special tree for Huisman, who received him from Leiden University.
“As a thank you for a project I did for them. It’s my favorite tree and he is even named after me: the Cedrus Lebani Wiecher Huisman“He says proudly.
In the meantime, the spacious garden is a paradise for people whose heart starts beating faster from special beeches, oak and birches. You will not find Drenthe-garden-and-kitchen trees in Drenthe quickly, because Huisman focuses on unusual species. He grows it for himself, but also partly for the sale.
“I currently have between 1,500 and 1,800 types of trees and shrubs on a piece of 1.5 hectares,” Huisman says proudly. “You will find 50 different types of birches, 50 types of oak and 300 different rhododendrons here. And you need a very large garden for that.”
Now that the dream garden is becoming pretty full, Huisman is going to expand his Arboretum. People can now come and take a look at Arcadia at set times, but the tree lover wants to open his doors to the public all year round in the future. In addition, there are plans for a theme weekend and an open garden day.
According to the municipality, the tree garden does not meet the zoning plan with all these activities. Huisman can get an exception, but must go through a procedure for that. The city council is now upset to give advice about his plans. With a positive judgment, the Arboretum gets green light.
All in all, legalizing the tree garden takes a few years and Huisman did not want to wait for that. A lot is growing and blooming on the new part. “I am seventy now and I don’t have an eternal life, so I also want to enjoy the trees that I plan. People have promised me orally that I could start planting.”
The city council will talk about the expansion plans on 8 May. Two weeks later the council makes the decision.