Sustainable green projects, and trees in particular, make a significant contribution to a natural balance in the built environment. Trees play a role in reducing the urban heat island effect in urban areas. Through evaporation, trees create increased humidity and contribute to reducing the temperature and CO₂. In cities, along motorways and in industrial areas, trees also bind particulates.
Sustainable development of public and private outdoor spaces is achieved not just through the choice of materials and their sustainable production, but also primarily through a future-oriented design and planting choices. The art is in looking closely at nature. Creating a balance in which nature maintains itself and can continue to develop. The individuality and diversity of nature forms the starting point from this perspective. For the planting choice, this means the natural growth and natural growing-location conditions for a tree should be taken into account, for example. This way the planting will flourish now and in the future. And the desired green experience will be guaranteed not only in the short term but also in the long term.
The typical and traditionally often-planted urban trees, such as the small-leaved lime, European ash, common or Norway maple, chestnut and plane trees are suffering more and more from stress factors linked to the urban environment. Think of soil sealing, limited root space, mechanical damage to roots and crown, a high heat reflection from buildings, emissions of polluting substances and strain from urine and salt. And add to that the increasingly obvious consequences of climate change.
In the Urban Greenery 2021 project, new and so far little-used urban trees are being tested on tolerance to heat, drought and frost over the course of twelve years.
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Ecological factors can also be an important consideration in the design process for green projects. Lots of trees are valuable to mammals, birds and insects. Using trees that are ecologically interesting gives animals a safe and protected habitat in urban and rural areas. A well-chosen range increases and supports this ecological value and natural experience. So the pollard willow is ecologically particularly valuable to bees, squirrels, birds, bats, insects, ducks and mustelids. Oaks and beeches make a great contribution to providing food for animals. Maples, lime trees, willows, chestnuts and fruit trees are also important pollen plants for bees.
View "Trees for bees"More and more companies and institutions are recognising the importance of sustainability. The 450-hectare Ebben nursery operates sustainably, in accordance with the Dutch 'Milieukeur' ecolabel. Sustainable cultivation is not only better for the environment, but also produces better trees. The plant learns to protect itself in a normal habitat and is stronger when it is later positioned in a public space or garden. Ebben Nurseries works with biological resources for fertilisation and disease control, for example, and has managed to significantly reduce the use of pesticides by planting strips of grass and mixed flowers between the trees. Rain and irrigation water are also collected and reused, after natural purification through the ground.
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