VNC creates more herbs, hedges and birds

The Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap (VNC) and the Collective Delta Landscape Plan are jointly pushing for more hedgerows in the UNESCO site The Maasheggen. However, they are also taking other measures that benefit biodiversity.

Most of these measures are paid for from the biodiversity grant "Non-productive investments for meadow and field birds. In addition, VNC has also received contributions from the Ars Donandi Tringa Fund and the Prince Bernard Cultural Fund

Hedges
Well-managed and healthy hedgerows provide a huge boost to biodiversity. VNC restores neglected hedgerows, which have disintegrated over the years due to poor management, by planting in gaps with native hawthorn. Thus, through December of 2021, 3 kilometers of hedges have been restored, and VNC is also planting new hedges. The new hedges consist mainly of hawthorn (80 percent), but other types of shrubs will also be planted. In all cases they are native species. In December, 1 kilometer of new thicket hedge was planted.

Herbal edges
Last year, over two acres of herb-rich flower borders were sown. Not only do these edges, once in bloom, look particularly beautiful, they are also an important and healthy source of food for the cows that graze there. The herb-rich "menu" gives the cows better resistance than if they were to eat only one species, such as the common ryegrass. This competitive ryegrass in combination with the rich clay soil in the area is a major cause of the rapid decline in herbalism in De Maasheggen. By sowing herb-rich edges, VNC is trying to break that trend. Together with Peter Verbeek of Bureau Natuurbalans, VNC has developed a method that ensures more herbs in a grassland. Because the grass strips are first milled, then plowed and then sown with a perennial herb mix, the herbs have a good chance of taking root.

Trees
Trees belong inextricably to and in the hedgerows along the Meuse River. So-called overhangs (free-standing trees in a hedge) are still found in many places in The Maasheggen. They provide shade, hiding and nesting places and food, thus fulfilling an important ecological function. But over the years, many of these overhangs have also disappeared. Starting this year, VNC will plant new trees in the hedgerows that can be managed as overhangs or pollarded trees in the future.

Nest boxes
The ring sparrow is a protected native bird and a welcome guest at farms and in villages on the edges of De Maasheggen. With nest boxes in the right places, VNC hopes to attract more ring sparrows to De Maasheggen. In total, VNC will hang fifty nest boxes on farm facades and in trees.

Bee mounds
Finally, VNC is going to construct so-called bee mounds. This measure, intended for the ailing solitary bees, VNC devised with bee experts. The bee mounds are made by stacking soil and then cutting it off tightly on one side. The raised side is then suitable for solitary bees to nest in. For the bee mounds, VNC uses soil from the excavated pools. Because the construction of the pools has been postponed until next year, the bee mounds are also delayed. Nevertheless, they too will take place from 2022, and the bee mounds will be at about one hundred locations in The Maasheggen.

This article previously appeared in the VNC member magazine "Landscape," which members of the VNC receive free home delivery.
Photos: Vereniging Nederlands Cultuurlandschap