Signing The Boxmeer Declaration: more European cooperation

On March 7, signatures were placed under The Boxmeer Declaration, confirming the signatories' commitment to work together to preserve and promote hedgerows. They will actively work to involve more people in Europe in hedge landscapes.

Among other things, the declaration announces the formation of a European hedge weaving network. The network will share knowledge about hedge weaving and, where desired, actively plant or restore hedges. Agreements were also made on the promotion of hedge weaving, especially among young people. The signatories also want to work out at least one demonstration project - showing where their cooperation can lead. Finally, the declaration stipulates that once a year an international symposium will be organized in one of the participating countries.

The Boxmeer Declaration was signed by Mayor Karel van Soest (municipality of Boxmeer) and the presidents of hedge preservation associations, Nigel Adams (United Kingdom), Valentijn de Cock (Belgium), Ulrich Pieper (Germany), Etiënne Monclus (France), Marc Mc. Dowell (Ireland) and Louis Dolmans (Netherlands).
The signing of the joint declaration was the conclusion of an international symposium on hedge weaving, which preceded the 15th Dutch Championship Maasheggenvlechten.