At the heart of the Ponceau family farm, the trade is passed down from generation to generation. Thibaut combines crop farming and the raising of dairy and beef cattle there. Mindful of the ecological network in Brabant Hesbaye, he decided to plant hedges to attract crop auxiliaries.
Thibaut was one of PlantC’s first beneficiaries, as we supported the planting of 760m of hedge on his property in 2021. Since then, Thibaut has been convinced by our approach. This led him to contact us again in 2024 for a new project, this time in Mélin.
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Auxiliary Hedge in Mélin at Thibaut’sLearn more
A HEDGE BENEFICIAL FOR CROPS & BIODIVERSITY
Meeting many criteria eligible for its Takecare sustainability program, the company Trafic chose to co-finance the approximately 606 meters of living hedges.
On January 18, 2025, the planting of the linear hedges took place after periods of intense rain. Prior to this, following the advice of the PlantC team, we sowed dwarf clover to prevent weed growth at the base of the hedge plants.
The linear hedge consists of hawthorn, dog rose, rowan*… A mixture of more than 8 different species of native trees and shrubs are now planted.
The hedge under close monitoring
At the end of September 2025, we visited the hedge in the presence of a common buzzard. Replanting is planned, as the drought affected some plants (hazel and rowan). Everything is on track for replanting this autumn 😉
Hedge
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Planting / installation period2024
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Number of trees870
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Meters of hedge303 m
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Carbon43.96 T of carbon sequestered over 19 years
List of selected species
| Rowan | |
|---|---|
| Hornbeam | |
| Field maple | |
| Single-seed Hawthorn | |
| Black elder | |
| Bloodtwig Dogwood | |
| Hazel | |
| Dog rose |
When we addressed the chapter “Biodiversity” as part of our Take Care program, the team’s desire to take concrete local action quickly became apparent.
We then found in PlantC an attentive and committed partner, capable of offering us a solution that is both professional and has a strong impact on biodiversity.
Thanks to the network of farmers and market gardeners spread throughout Belgium, we will be able to develop a project near each of our stores by 2030.
Our decision to collaborate with Plant C is also based on the rigorous approach to selecting its partners: plantations are chosen according to the local biotope, implemented with care, and are subject to regular monitoring.
We are delighted with this collaboration, enriched throughout the year by clear information and constant visibility on current and upcoming projects.
