Our Anniversary Forest in Brabant is growing well: results for 2024–2025

Last winter, we celebrated our 25th anniversary in a very special way. Along with our donors and our partner Brabants Landschap, we planted an Anniversary Forest! The new forest was planted in the heart of the Pompveld, a valuable Natura 2000 nature reserve in North Brabant. By planting it, we’re expanding the habitat of all sorts of remarkeable animals. The good news is that despite an extremely dry springtime, the young trees have got off to a great start! Time to take stock.

New nature in North Brabant

The Pompveld is known as a Wet Oasis in North Brabant. It is a unique and valuable nature reserve in Land van Heusden en Altena, a river area in Brabant. The forests, swamps and wet meadows are home to many different species of animal: from the golden oriole and the common pipistrelle to the moor frog and the European weatherfish.

Until recently, part of the Pompveld still comprised former agricultural land, which contributed very little to the biodiversity of the surroundings. By planting trees here, however, we are reinforcing nature and linking up existing forests.

This creates one big unbroken habitat, making it easier for all the plants and animals to move around, breed and find food. And that’s essential, as the number of plant and animal species in the Netherlands is still decreasing.

More than 25 species planted

In the Anniversary Forest, we planted a variety of native tree and shrub species that are indigenous to the region. There’s a good reason for doing so, as a varied forest with several species is much more resistant to climate change than forests with just one or few species. If one species gets into difficulties in the future due to drought, for example, then the other tree species keep the forest going.

For instance, we planted small-leaved lime, hornbeam and English oak in the drier parts. The wetter middle ground was planted with species like alder, European white elm and maple, which grow well on damp soils.

To get the saplings off to a good start, Brabants Landschap pre-sowed the planting location with rye. The benefits of sowing rye are that it retains moisture, improves the structure of the clay soil, suppresses weeds and provides an alternative for deer, which would otherwise eat the saplings.

How are the trees doing now?

It was a dry spring – so dry, in fact, that the clay soil cracked open in some places. Yet most of the trees are doing remarkably well! Thanks to the protection of the rye and the nutritious clay soil, some of the saplings are even taller than the rye now. That means that some trees are already twice as tall as when they were planted!

In wet places where no rye was growing, we did see a bit of rubbing damage. Roebucks use young trees to rub off the itchy velvet on their antlers, and this unfortunately damages the bark as well. Nevertheless, some willows are sprouting again. Nature is incredibly resilient!

In the coming years, we will of course be following the progress of the forest carefully. Where necessary, we’ll plant additional trees, so that the Anniversary Forest  can develop into a strong, mature forest.

The Anniversary Forest is springing into life

Although the forest is still young, it’s already brimming with life. From the observation hill in the area, forester Bart from Brabants Landschap spotted young redshanks and avocets in the spring. And a real birdsong concert was given by cuckoos, nightingales, blackcaps and bluethroats.

We also saw cuckoo flowers growing among the rye. Not only is this a beautiful sight, but it’s also very important. Cuckoo flowers are a host plant for the orange-tip; a butterfly that lays its eggs only on this species of plant. So the Anniversary Forest is already contributing to the conservation of sensitive species.

Forester Bart even discovered the tracks of a beaver in the sand alongside the forest. The animal’s broad tail leaves distinctive trail marks.

 Young avocets, redshanks, orange-tips and even beavers: several residents have already discovered the Anniversary Forest

A forest for people and nature

Besides providing protection for plants and animals, the Anniversary Forest also contributes to a better climate. The trees help to sequester carbon and nitrogen, ensure cooling during hot summers and retain water in the soil, whereby they combat drought.

So together, we’re creating healthy living conditions for people and wildlife, both now and for the future. What a fantastic way to celebrate our anniversary!

Visit the Anniversary Forest

If you’re in the neighbourhood, please drop by! There’s a new footpath straight through the forest, without disturbing the tranquillity of the open nature spots. This lets you enjoy the nature while leaving the wildlife in peace. The observation hill gives you a wonderful view of the Anniversary Forest. As the forest is still young, you get a good idea of how your trees are growing.