On 18 March, President of the Executive Board Alexandra van Huffelen was the first to put a spade in the ground for the new Radboud Forest, with one rather fragile sapling that will hopefully soon grow into a mature wild pear tree. With this gesture, she emphasised the sustainable impact the university wants to have on society, and referred to an earlier contribution the University made to woods in Ooij. “This shows that sustainability matters to us. Let it grow!”
A handful of employees and donors of the Radboud Forest project helped plant the first trees, a rich variety of 11 species. This is in line with the municipality's policy to enhance biodiversity in the city. “It makes a forest less vulnerable,” said Daan van Swaaij of the Municipality of Nijmegen. “And with lots of different trees, you also attract more species of bees and insects. That way, we give more species a chance.”
“If you want to go far, go together”
The planting of new trees is in line with the 2022 municipal policy aimed at enriching the city with some five thousand new trees within five years. The planting of the Radboud Forest contributes to this ambition. Thanks to the municipal plan, the areas that were cleared for the new plantings already contained some larger trees, such as oaks and hornbeams.
“That way the trees will support and strengthen one another,” explains municipal green space consultant Leon Klaassen. The solitary municipal trees will receive support from the much larger number of Radboud trees planted in between them. “Trees help each other, thanks to the multitude of fungi in the roots. All living beings thrive better in company.” Klaassen recalls an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
