Residents of the municipality of West Maas en Waal enhance biodiversity on their land
On Saturday, November 20, private individuals from the rural area of West Maas en Waal received plants and nesting boxes to enhance biodiversity on their land. They are participating in the "24 biodiversity plans" project of the Gelderland Landscape Management Foundation (SLG). The municipality of West Maas en Waal and the province of Gelderland are financing this project.
Free biodiversity plan
Alderman Erik Peters: "It's wonderful that we can support residents in this way. The plans are truly tailor-made. In this way, we are working together to make our municipality a little more biodiverse." A free biodiversity plan has been drawn up for each participant. It explains how residents can enhance biodiversity and the local landscape on their property. This includes planting native trees and shrubs, such as hawthorn, hazel, and guelder rose, or pollarded trees, avenue trees, and standard fruit trees on their property and in the landscape. Sowing herbs and installing nesting boxes for songbirds and hedgehogs is also part of the project. Participants were able to purchase plants, seeds, and nesting boxes at a discount. In collaboration with volunteers from the Little Owl Working Group, the suitability of the properties for installing little owl nesting boxes is being investigated.
Drive-through
Due to the coronavirus measures, participants were able to pick up their plants via a drive-through in Appeltern. Volunteers from the Mooi Appeltern landscape management group helped distribute the plants. In total, more than 9,000 forest plants, 20 trees, around 60 standard fruit trees, and 1,555 m² of herb mixture will be planted and sown.
Bird grove, hedge, and little owl box
Twenty-four biodiversity plans have now been drawn up, with virtually everyone taking measures to enhance biodiversity. Joost Huisman is one of them: "Consultant Femke has drawn up a great biodiversity plan. It clearly states what will be done and where. I don't really have enough experience to draw up such a plan myself, so it's great that we received advice on this. We have planted a bird grove with various types of trees and a varied hedge. In addition, the little owl working group has hung up a little owl box."