Laakdal Invests in Local Greenery 

Laakdal, a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp with a population of over 16,000 people, is taking bold steps towards its climate goals by creating more natural spaces in the area. Two former football fields have been reimagined as green havens: edible greenery at WZC Vogelzang, and a food forest on Heikantstraat. The food forest, situated along the highway, offers sustenance for both humans and wildlife, including birds and critters. In a heartening development, a pair of storks recently chose an ecologically felled tree as their nesting site.
In partnership with Regional Landscapes and the municipality of Laakdal, a standard orchard has been established at Vogelzang. This orchard boasts 100 standard trees of various fruit species, each digitally recorded via Plantsoon. Visitors can access information about each species and the purpose of the plantings through smart plant tags on the trees. This innovative approach emphasizes the importance of awareness and education, aiming to inspire residents to plant trees on their own properties.