November 2024, the last leaves were falling from the trees, the rain was beating down, and the PlantC office was buzzing, awaiting the first spade stroke that would officially launch the 2024-2025 planting campaign. What’s planned? Single-row hedges, double-row hedges, tree alignments, and of course, orchards!
And as always, we ensure that our projects meet four key objectives:
- Support biodiversity: creation or restoration of habitats and ecological corridors.
- Sequester carbon: via photosynthesis, in soils or biomass.
- Promote local adaptation: mitigate risks such as erosion, mudslides, or protect crops (wind, shade, livestock resources, etc.).
- Encourage a bio-based economy: leverage synergies between humans and nature (biomass production, fruits, etc.).
So, would you like a quick summary of all our projects?
Hedges and a Tree Alignment at Marie Monville’s
It was at Marie Monville’s in Stoumont that we began this year’s planting season with a large-scale project including two major initiatives:
Two double-row hedges
The first hedge will extend for 160 meters, and the second for 130 meters, with a total of 967 plants. These melliferous and nourishing hedges will also act as windbreaks, protecting the sheep from gusts, while attracting diverse wildlife.
A Tree Alignment
Two rows of 280 meters comprising 42 small-leaved lime trees. This alignment will contribute to biodiversity by offering a suitable habitat for insects and bats, while structuring the landscape. The lime tree is a particularly beneficial species for pollinators.
“Anti-Erosion” Hedges at Pierre Dupuis’s
We then visited Pierre Dupuis, a farmer in Fexhe-Slins, who contacted us because he was losing 20% of his potato crops each year due to flooding at the back of his field. He also wanted to plant hedges for biodiversity.
We were immediately keen to help, and we assisted Pierre in designing an anti-erosion and biodiversity-friendly hedge. We then secured the necessary funding and, finally, planted the hedges!
A Meadow Orchard at Carole and Bertrand’s Petit-Bomal Farm
We then visited Carole and Bertrand at Petit-Bomal farm to design a meadow orchard project.
A passionate farming couple who took over a beautiful farm in 2020. Their ambition is to respect and promote the values of sustainable agriculture. The farm is managed according to the fundamental principles of agroecology. A model of diversified polyculture-livestock farming that reflects our commitment to a greener and more ethical agricultural system.
Bertrand wishes to establish a meadow orchard: this is one of the flagship actions of his agro-environmental action plan, with the planting of 800 fruit trees! The farmer benefited from PlantC’s support for 208 trees!
A Gigantic 778-Meter Hedge Planted at Damien de Theux’s!
And so, we were at Damien’s to plant a 778-meter double-row hedge!
This is an excellent project which includes consideration for the transformation of existing land parcels. We are going back in time to revive what our grandparents had: a land division where agricultural lands are divided into smaller plots. Smaller plots mean better protection for crops from wind, pests, and water runoff.
Embracing biodiversity, we cultivate smaller areas, but we cultivate better! The species were chosen to attract beneficial insects to combat pests without chemical products.
A Plot in Bierges Fully Reforested
The Intermunicipal Association of Walloon Brabant (Inbw) called upon PlantC to completely reforest a plot that was affected by the bark beetle.
Satellite photographs from 1996 confirm the presence of deciduous trees, probably oaks, on this land. Around the year 2000, a felling was carried out, followed by a spruce plantation. Several thinnings were carried out until 2018, the year when the bark beetle affected this plot for the first time.
The complete infestation of the stand by this destructive insect led to clear-cutting in 2022, after 100% of the trees were affected. Since then, the plot remained vacant and awaited replanting.
And it has been done! We have entirely replanted this plot with species very diverse such as Corsican black pine, hybrid walnut, sessile oak, Norway maple, chestnut, … All these species will help make this space welcoming for biodiversity.
Over 1km of Hedge and a Tree Alignment in the Municipality of Amay
The municipality of Amay, driven by the non-profit organization Kick biodiversité, called upon PlantC to provide its expertise and support for hedge planting at two farmers’ properties in the municipality.
We therefore planted 476 meters of double-row hedge and 170 meters of single-row hedge at one farmer’s property, and 440 meters of double-row hedge and an alignment of 40 walnut trees at farmer Comijn’s property, famous for his potato production.
The objective of the municipality of Amay through this action is to boost biodiversity and the ecological network within the municipality. A meaningful initiative for the future that we commend!
This is certainly not the end!
Do not worry, the PlantC office is still as bustling as ever, as we still have many projects to finalize before the end of the planting season.
We will keep you informed of upcoming news, so stay connected.
We also take this opportunity to warmly thank all our planters who make this possible, and without whom, the result would clearly not be the same!
And, if you wish to contribute to our projects, click here:
