Oudenburg, Belgium

Mandelwijk Forest

A community forest in Oudenburg.

The ‘Mandelwijk’ is a social housing project that went through a recent renovation. The city Council of Oudenburg has chosen SUGi to help further restore the community with a Miyawaki forest.

The planting of these forests is part of the implementation of the City Council’s ‘Boomplusplan’. With the Mandelwijk Forest we aim to improve our biodiversity, urban resilience and create a pleasant and healthy living environment.

Together with the schools of Oudenburg, we will plant forests to leave a sustainable world for future generations.

Forest Maker Nicolas de Brabandère

1,500

TREES

500

SQUARE METERS

NATIVE SPECIES

a dirt field with. ahouse in the background

The site of Mandelwijk Forest in Oudenburg, Belgium

saplings planted in a field with a house in the background

The pocket forest after 1 year growth

Forest Report: 1 Year

DATE: 10.09.2022

Survival Rate: 85-90%

Average of Tallest 3 Trees: 110cm

Due to city restrictions, Mandelwijk Forest was not watered throughout the drought and thus suffered a bit. Moreover, it is important to consider that the forest was planted into an area of water-logged anaerobic soil, which added an extra challenge in its first year.

Even though the forest has been visibly affected by the harsh summer, we can see that heat- and sun-damaged saplings are re-sprouting.The range in survival rate is connected to this; we need to wait until spring 2023 to really see how many saplings fully recover.

It was also a conscious choice to keep the long grasses and weeds in place, to help build soil fertility naturally, aerate the soil, but also to give shade to the saplings.

Overall our evidence demonstrates that this is a Miyawaki forest showing immense resilience in the face of unprecedented climatic conditions. We foresee this forest continuing to grow and thrive, albeit at a slower rate than young forests that have not had to face the same challenges.