Pete & Gertruud

Returning land to nature in a sustainable way

Sometimes the water is stronger than the land. Even then, it is possible to make sustainable choices, as demonstrated by the Beers family from Westbeemster. With nature-friendly banks, for example.

Over time, about half an acre of land has been eroded into the drainage ditch, which runs between two plots. Without intervention, this would continue. High time for action. The choice was made to install nature-friendly wattle fencing and to dump soil between the new wattle fencing and the existing banks. "Reed has been planted in it, and its roots hold all the soil better. So our problem is solved", says Piet. "At the same time, this vegetation contributes to the nature in and around the water. Fish find a quiet place to lay their eggs, birds use the stems for their nests and dragonflies crawl out of the water via the leaves. It's a real win-win situation for man and nature."