Bruges (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Bruges installs 30 wooden barriers at Beisbroek, Chartreuzinnenbos and Tudor to stop dumping. Alderman Franky Demon says 500 kg of waste is collected monthly; the first 10 barriers were placed in Beisbroek.
As VRT News reported, the city of Bruges has started installing 30 wooden barriers at the entrances of the Beisbroek, Chartreuzinnenbos and Tudor nature reserves. The action follows ongoing problems with illegal dumping in these green areas.
City workers remove about 500 kilograms of waste from the reserves every month. The waste includes garden cuttings, construction debris, discarded computer screens, cat litter and other household materials.
“The findings show that it’s often green waste, but sometimes it also contains non-native species such as bamboo, yellow deadnettle, and even Japanese knotweed,”
explains Franky Demon (CD&V), Alderman for Public Domain.
“And that’s not good for our environment.”
What impact will 30 wooden barriers have on Bruges reserves?
According to city nature expert Simon Brandt, the barriers are designed to keep vehicles out while still allowing access for walkers and cyclists. He says that dumpers often stop near the entrance because they think they will not be noticed. He also reports that some drivers use the roads as a way to avoid alcohol checks.
In Beisbroek, the first phase was already completed, with 10 barriers already installed at key entrances. The barriers have been made of wood and fit into the natural environment. Each barrier has a pedestrian gate and a separate opening for cyclists.
The city of Bruges carried out measures in 2021 by installing wooden posts and gates at several entrances of the Zevenkerkenbos and Ryckevelde reserves to block car access and curb illegal dumping. In 2022, additional barriers were added near Tillegembos as part of a wider program to secure vulnerable nature zones.
