Six attractive recipes for more biodiverse, climate-robust and nutrient-rich forest
In the project 'Attractive new tailor-made forest landscapes', six forest landscapes are being designed, for six very different plots of landowners in Gelderland. After all, in the Netherlands we want more and varied forests, more biodiversity, and less nitrogen and CO2. But what can you do with woodland and which woodland fits where? These pilots should provide clarity about that. A condition is that the forest landscape should provide a return: a combination of income (food and wood), climate resilience, CO2 and nitrogen reduction and above all biodiversity. That is why in this project, two country estates are making their forest more biodiverse, two dairy farmers are expanding their businesses in preparation for the future, a fruit grower wants more than rows of apples, and a landowner with a very high groundwater level wants to learn how he can plant a food forest on it.
Responding to a need for new inspiration
It is clear that agriculture needs perspective. This project is therefore happy to provide examples for very diverse situations. Not only will a (food) forest landscape be designed for each participant, but at the end of the project figures on costs and revenues will be available to inspire other landowners. In order to make this successful, parties from various domains are working together in this project: The Plant/Food from the Forest, Stichting Voedselbosbouw Nederland, Stichting Probos and communication agency de Lynx. Funding comes from the EU and the province of Gelderland.
The six recipes
In the videos below, the managers of the six landscapes explain what their country/recipe is about. You can also access the recipe tool this way. With each recipe you will also find a nice flyer with more background information.
In the first video, administrators talk about their plans and expectations for the project (in September 2022). The second video is shot six months later. We then talk about how realization is going.
Estate the Dorskamp
Landgoed de Dorskamp is right next to the built-up areas of Wageningen, Bennekom and Renkum and has great recreational pressure. How can you keep woods attractive to people while strengthening biodiversity?
To provide additional food sources for the occurring fauna, plant selection consists of species that can reproduce themselves so that the (food) forest landscape can sustain itself.
Food forest Kilder
In the Hollander family, the parents are handing over the land to the next generation who do not see themselves on the tractor, but are eager to get started with a recreational food forest combined with a campground.
We started the first planting. No more corn field, but a diverse food forest. Part of a new landscape, where nature, recreation and production come together.
Food forest Biesterhof, Millingen
A young couple becomes farmers on 25 acres of river clay in Millingen a/d Rijn. They lease from Land from Us and build a modern mixed farm full of biodiversity. Of course, that includes five acres of productive food forest.
In March, the food forest "Food Paradise" in the making is already well in place, the first plants are standing and the connection with the horticulture and people in the area is also already underway.
Welna country estate
Welna Estate is a classic large forestry estate on the Veluwe. Here Probos is developing a recipe for more biodiverse, climate-robust forests of multiple value.
Frank Gorter talks about the situation and challenges surrounding the Natura 2000 estate on the Veluwe. Things are moving forward in small steps, and some of the planting has now been approved by the province.
Food forest Lingehout
Gerdien Dijkstra, Frank de Gram and Wouter van Eck set to work transforming a one-sided fruit orchard into a biodiverse and nutrient-rich forest landscape in five years. View the designs.
Ederveen food forest
How do you start a food forest on land with a high water table? Like in Ederveen. Trees usually don't like too wet feet. See how we solved this.
Publications
In addition to all the short publications on our social media channels, a number of articles have been written for trade magazines.
June 2, 2023: Article in trade journal The Landowner (PDF).
Two personal stories about the attractive (food) forest landscapes near Welna and Kilder.
May 3, 2023: Article in Fruitteelt (PDF).
About food forest Lingehout, in the trade journal of the Dutch Fruit Growers Organization.
May 1, 2023: Article in Ekoland "Food forest fits into mixed farm Biesterhof" (only readable by subscribers)
March 20, 2023: Article in Trade magazine Green (PDF).
A food forest can go anywhere. About all six designs, for attractive food forest recipes.
The project partners
Interviews with project partners in September 2022
Wouter van Eck talks about the four landscapes being developed by Stichting Voedselbosbouw Nederland in this project.
Tjitske Ypma of the Lynx Foundation explains why it is so important that this project exists.
Marieke Karssen of The Plant and Food from the Forest talks about her motivation for this project and why it's so important to have a tool that allows people to work on their own.
The Probos Foundation is developing two innovative forest landscapes in this project. With more biodiversity, greater robustness and interesting new forms of harvesting.
Launch event on 22-11-22
On Nov. 22, 2022, the room filled up with around 170 people who were presented with not only six inspiring land designs, but also a short demo of a tool that anyone can use to get started with these six recipes themselves.
The recording can be viewed back below. The audio is fine, but unfortunately the picture is quite grainy. You can also download the presentation below.
All information about the recipes themselves can be found in our brand new recipe tool.
Project Partners
