Preparations for the Nationale Boomfeestdag (National Tree Day) are in full swing. On Wednesday, March 20, 154 children will arrive by coach at the Business Centre Treeport to plant more than 2,000 plants and trees. Part of the planting will be done beneath the wind turbine, on top of that, there will be an additional 2,000 square meters in the seed orchard using indigenous materials. These children are from Dutch schools, such as Sint Annaschool and Zonnebloem in Zundert, Sint Bavoschool in Rijsbergen, and Sint Antoniusschool in Klein-Zundert. Among them are also Children's Council members: Nienke IJkema, Resie van Hees, Sara Kokke, Mahmoud Nasif, and Lone de Beer.
Speakers
On this special day, three speakers will also be present: alderman Ralph Bogers on behalf of the municipality of Zundert, Jolanda van Hasselt on behalf of the coöperatieve vereniging Treeport Zundert, and Corné de Vooght on behalf of Rabobank De Zuidelijke Baronie. Rabobank De Zuidelijke Baronie provides financial and programmatic support to realize the plans for this societal initiative.
Design
The trees will be planted according to a design by the Agrobiodiversity work group, including Hedera helix 'arborescens', Osmanthus x burckwoodii, Artemisia 'Powis Castle', Aster divaricatus, and Verbena hastata. These plants will be supplied on the Monday preceding the celebration by Treeport member Boomkwekerij Richard De Bie B.V. The work group has devised a clear color plan, which the children can use to put the correct plant in the desired location. The seed orchard will also have space for Betula pendula, Cornus sanguinea, Corylus avellana, Euonymus europaeus, Frangula alnus, Fraxinus excelsior, Prunus avium, Tilia cordata, Viburnum opulus, and Rosa (o) canina. These will be supplied by Treeport member NL Plants B.V.
Additionally, in collaboration with the three speakers, there is a special planting. In the central aisle of the seed orchard, a Fagus tree will be planted in honor of landowner Frans van Schaik, who sadly passed away on May 7 2023. Three additional trees will be planted in his honor, and the space around it will remain empty in remembrance of Frans.
Preparation at the schools
The children are already preparing for this special event. Classroom lessons are being conducted under the guidance of the coöperatieve vereniging Treeport, and the movie "Onder het Maaiveld Junior" has been watched. These lessons show that children are concerned about the green world and have a lot of interest in it. This was also evident in the entries received for the contest, where children were asked to design the tree of the future. The awards will be presented on March 20 by Treeport manager David Bömer. The organizing has not yet announced the winner. Would you like to attend the celebration? Please let us know by Monday, March 18, via info@treeport.eu.
The organising committee for the annual Nationale Boomfeestdag includes: Trade Fair GrootGroenPlus, European Plant Support Foundation, coöperatieve vereniging Treeport Zundert, and Treeport BCT Partners BV. They are supported by Rabobank De Zuidelijke Baronie, the Municipality of Zundert, and Stichting Nationale Viering Boomfeestdag. It is possible to join the organising committee. Companies, organizations, and associations can contact us via info@treeport.eu.
For more information:
Coöperatieve Vereniging Treeport Zundert U.A.
Bredaseweg 7, 4881 DC
Zundert, the Netherlands
info@treeport.eu
www.treeport.eu