Page 42 - ALG Issue 1 2020
P. 42

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    ‘De Smallen Entrée’ in Tourhout (Belgium)
local authorities and allotment gardeners join forces to create new plots
This project is only three years old,
but is already a lively park with a good, sociable and cosy vibe. The park is
well hidden behind a typical Belgian ribbon development and was an unused open space enclosed by houses. An
old remnant of an orchard was on the premises. In 2014 the city council was looking for a spot for a new allotment because of the long waiting list on
their first project. This old orchard was the ideal spot, near to the city centre
and with ideal soil. Their first aim was to create an ecological allotment. In 2015 the project was realised, and
they immediately announced their candidature for the Ecological garden label launched the year before by the Belgian Allotment Federation: Tuinhier.
The trees that were still alive from
the old orchard were saved and incorporated into the plans. To ensure the life of the trees, they were pruned by
With the pruning of the trees, a dead hedge was made to lure hedgehogs and other useful animals
professionals and an area around the tree trunk was planted with perennial plants to protect the roots. A long-term plan was made for all green areas separately e.g. trees, floral borders,
the ditch, etc. These plans described the annual jobs that have to be done to make them richer in biodiversity e.g. annual mowing, etc. A whole plot was sacrificed for a communal green area with bee-friendly plants and host plants for wild animals. With the pruning of the trees, a dead hedge was made to lure hedgehogs and other useful animals.
Some more experienced gardeners started a demo-garden. Good practices and experiments are done here. Every weekend a garden expert visits the park and the gardeners can come over to ask questions. Diseases or plagues can be spotted very quickly this way. Every three years they do a soil analysis to prevent over-fertilising. The analysis provides advice and a general view on the health of the soil.
For two years they followed the guidelines for the ‘Ecological garden label’. In 2018 they were awarded three out of four stars for their efforts. In 2019 the project received the International Office diploma for ecological gardening.
          42 Allotment and Leisure Gardener

















































































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