Marie Monville, a passionate farmer and Stoumont resident, partnered with PlantC to undertake an ambitious planting project aimed at enriching local biodiversity while meeting agricultural objectives. This project demonstrates a strong commitment to ecological balance and sustainability.
We met Marie in 2023 for a participatory hedge planting project with Estelle Nicolay from Railtrip Travel. Once the project was completed, Marie shared her planting plans with us: hedges to optimize the network around her plots, an alignment of trees, and finally, a high-stem fruit orchard.
Marie, Full of Projects
A few years ago, Marie Monville took over the family farm which was previously managed by her father. Not lacking ideas and wishing to boost tourism in the surrounding area, she developed a country-style golf course on her plots. In parallel, she raises some sheep and starts a fruit production to produce delicious apple juice directly available at the farm.
The result in spring was fabulous, because despite the great appetite of the roe deer that came to browse the young plants, the recovery rate was very good!
Clearly, Marie’s dynamism does not go unnoticed, and the planting projects could not stop there. She therefore decided in 2024 to do it again, to plant 290 meters of double-row hedges and an alignment of 42 trees in collaboration with Trafic!
Located in a region near a Natura2000 zone, this project emphasizes the harmonious coexistence between agricultural activities and biodiversity preservation. The presence of the red-backed shrike, a protected species, influenced the choice of species planted in the hedges, promoting floral diversity and thorny bushes.
The planting project includes two major initiatives:
- An alignment of trees
Two rows of 280 meters comprising 42 small-leaved lime trees. This alignment will contribute to biodiversity by providing a suitable habitat for insects and bats, while structuring the landscape, and the lime tree is a particularly beneficial species for pollinators. - 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 varied wildlife.
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Tree & Hedge Alignment: A Planting Project at MonvilleLearn more
The Hedge: An Ecological and Nourishing Corridor
Meeting numerous eligibility criteria for its Takecare sustainability program, the company Trafic chose to co-finance the 290 meters of living hedges double-row and the alignment of 42 trees.
In December 2024, the planting of the linear elements was carried out after the periods of rain and frost, and under the advice of the PlantC team, the planter cleared the ground to facilitate the implementation of the hedge.
The hedge is composed of guelder roses, hawthorns, and wild apple trees*, part of a mix of more than 13 indigenous species of trees and shrubs. For the alignment, we chose the small-leaved lime tree.
Hedge
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Planting / installation period2024
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Number of trees798
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Area1 990 m²
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Meters of hedge570 m
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Carbon55.456 T of carbon sequestered over 20 years
List of selected species
| Guelder rose | |
|---|---|
| Hazel | |
| Hawthorn | |
| Dog Rose | |
| Rowan | |
| Whitebeam | |
| Crabapple | |
| Broom | |
| Goat willow | |
| Purple willow | |
| Bloodtwig Dogwood | |
| Black elder | |
| Red Elderberry | |
| Small-leaved Lime | 42 |
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.
