Almost 7 football pitches of extra forest in Leersum: results 2023-2024

In partnership with Staatsbosbeheer and the Buitenfonds, Trees for All has planted new forests in Leersum. In total, the project involved 40,000 trees, which we planted over the space of two winters. In August 2024, we visited the planting location to see how the trees were doing. So it’s time for an update!

Why we’re planting new forests in Leersum

In Leersum, we’re planting new forests in partnership with Staatsbosbeheer and the Buitenfonds. We’re doing so in places that form that form a link between the Utrechtse Heuvelrug (Utrecht Hill Ridge) and the clayey polder and river landscape. This land used to be home to many species of tree that thrive in damp soil, such as willow and alder.

Many of these species of tree and shrub have disappeared over the last century, due to urban expansion, the construction of infrastructure and the scaling up of agriculture. Not only has this meant the loss of a unique landscape, but all sorts of plants and animals have been deprived of their habitat as well. By planting new forests, we restore part of this nature. In addition, this project has contributed to the national Forest Strategy, through which the Dutch government intends to plant a total of 37,000 hectares of new forest in the Netherlands by 2030.

Almost 7 football pitches of extra forest 

In the winter of 2022-2023, we made a start on the new forests in Leersum, by getting the first 24,000 trees into the ground. Last winter, we planted a further 16,000 trees on around four hectares of land. That’s almost seven football pitches of new forest! Some of our donors helped to get the first trees into the ground on a rainy planting day. The planting work was finished off afterwards by Staatsbosbeheer.

On a rainy planting day on 29 February 2024, our donors put saplings in the ground

Native and varied species of tree

In Leersum, we planted various native species of tree and shrub, like alder, downy birch, field elm, white willow, buckthorn and hawthorn. These are native species that naturally belong in the area and are completely at home at this location. Planting these species creates a strong and varied forest. If one species gets into difficulties in the future, due to drought, disease or pests, for example, then the other trees keep the forest going. Furthermore, a forest with many different species attracts a great variety of plants and wildlife. So it’s good for biodiversity!

The trees are growing well!

In August 2024, we visited the planting location to see how the trees were growing. In short, they’re doing really well! The tallest trees have already reached a height of more than two metres. The alders and willows, in particular, are shooting up. That’s no surprise really, in view of the heavy rainfall last year, as these species grow very well on damp soil.

Other species, however, suffered a bit more from all the rain. A number of the beeches, for instance, had some brown leaves. We also saw that in a few places the saplings had been gnawed by deer. Fortunately, the number of trees we’ve lost is not too alarming. We expect a large proportion of these trees still to recover.

Reinforcing and expanding biodiversity

The new forests are situated near to or alongside existing forests, thus creating big, unbroken natural areas, where all sorts of trees, shrubs, plants and wildlife will be found in the future. During our visit, we saw a buzzard, a stork, various butterflies and other insects flying around. There are also a couple of pools at the planting locations, where dragonflies and frogs feel at home. In the future, the new forests will attract many other species as well, such as the golden oriole (bird), brown hairstreak (butterfly) and campion (plant).

From young to mature forest

Over the coming years, the trees we’ve planted will develop into a young forest. In the initial years after the planting, there will still be a grid around the planting location, to prevent deer gnawing at the saplings. Once the trees are big enough, the grid will be removed. We expect that to be in about five years time. Not only will the trees grow, but the biodiversity will also keep increasing over the years. If you’re interested in finding out about this process, you can read our article How does a forest grow?