Campus Drie Eiken will be undergoing a major makeover over the next few years. This autumn, construction will start on new student facilities at what is now Car Park 3. That means that 31 young trees have to make way for a new sports hall and student accommodation. But instead of chopping down these 31 alders, planted there just two years ago, we decided to replant them.
Two years ago, the Environmental Office planted 31 young trees in Car Park 3. With the new buildings coming here, these trees had to go. Feeling it would be a shame to chop them down, the Environmental Office decided to replant them in different locations on and around the campus. ‘We think it’s great that the new facilities will be built in an already paved area. It’s always a shame when nature has to make way for new buildings’, said environmental coordinator Marleen Clerinx.
But… how do you move a living tree?
Though it’s fairly commonplace nowadays, moving trees is still a complex undertaking that involves a specialised machine, called a tree spade. This large machine literally scoops the tree out of the ground. Now you’re probably thinking: huh, scooping? That’s right, scooping!
- Step 1: The machine digs deep into the ground and scoops up the entire clump of soil holding the tree and its roots.
- Step 2: The same machine digs a hole the same size in the new location.
- Step 3: The tree is moved from A to B.
- Step 4: The tree is lowered into the new hole, where it should fit snugly.
And that’s it! A piece of cake… or in this case: a scoop of soil.
Location B, where is that?
A lot of thought was put into where the trees should go. Most of them were planted in the meadow at the edge of the campus. This is in line with new insights in agriculture and agroforestry, which recognise the benefits of having trees and bushes near meadows. Some of the trees were planted in the eastern part of the campus, where there are several old poplars. The rest of the alders were placed in lines on and around the campus.
The trees were moved on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 March. A storm then swept through our country, putting the trees to the test. Fortunately, they held their ground and survived the strong winds.
Next time you’re out and about on Campus Drie Eiken, keep an eye out for these brave alders.