Halle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The youth groups of Halle gathered on a Sunday afternoon to plant a new forest on an open field situated between Kluisbos and Smeerhout, and Krabos.
Youth movements from Halle participated in planting 1,200 trees in an area that connects Kluisbos, Smeerhout, and Krabos on Sunday afternoon. Different scout groups collaborated on this initiative under the support of the Agency for Nature and Forests as they planted trees for environmental sustainability. The planted forest will create an outdoor area that future inhabitants will use for recreation and games.
“The youth council asked us to come here with our children to plant trees. There are not that many of us because it was a bit last minute, but the members who are there are doing a good job, and they enjoy doing it,”
Says leader Gilles of Scouts Halle.
“The children who are planting trees here now can come here to play with their scout groups when they will one day be leaders themselves. The more forest, the more fun.”
Leader Jochen of Scouts Sint-Rochus agrees.
“We are here with 3 groups: the brownies, the young guides and the scouts. It is really cool that we can do something for nature, something that you can really see growing. The scouts are more playing than planting trees, but they are also doing well. (laughs)”
“We are planting about half a hectare of forest here, about 1,200 trees,”
Says Patrick Huvenne of the Agency for Nature and Forests.
“There are some bush belts and wood edges here, but the only forest in the immediate vicinity was only planted last year. So, there is already a start, and that is now being expanded a bit. This is now a field, but this terrain has actually been designated for green since the 1970s. We have been able to buy some terrain here that we will now give their nature destination.”
What is the background of the tree-planting initiative in Halle?
The Halle tree-planting project has developed years of ongoing regional attempts to create more green areas. The designated area for green development between Kluisbos Smeerhout and Krabos remained empty since the 1970s before development initiatives began recently. The previous year saw the initial planting of a forest just outside the area, and its development started through tree planting.
The Agency for Nature and Forests secured the land territory to achieve its environmental objectives of biodiversity improvement and recreation establishment. Youth organisations, particularly scout groups, join these community projects, which demonstrate the increasing focus on environmental initiatives driven by communities and nature engagement with younger people.
