Bunderplein Opwijk

Bunderplein as a 4,500 m² green oasis for the neighbourhood and a nice place to relax along the Leirekensroute. That was the aim of the ‘Natuur in je Buurt’ project (ANB) in Opwijk and also the wish of the neighbourhood. Residents gather there for a Christmas drink, children play on the play mounds, young people can play sports, cyclists find a pleasant resting place during a trip along the Leirekensroute. But also butterflies, solitary bees, birds, hedgehogs… can fully enjoy the extra created nature.

The flower meadows and herb-rich grassland have been created to give those biodiversity real opportunities and the wadi buffers the water. Although the trees and wooded borders still have to grow, they will gradually fulfil their role for nature: small animals can take shelter there, build a nest, move along, … The many blossoms and fruits are ideal food. As a result, Bunderplein will become a true paradise for people and animals.

Nature-based solutions

• Use nature/natural processes that support biodiversity to address the challenges related to climate change, water management (including flood management) and land degradation;
• Have respect for and/or improve the specific environmental and ecological characteristics of the area (e.g. the topography, the type of landscape, the local plant and animal life, …);
• Incorporate those natural processes into the surrounding area and environment;
• Strengthen ecological connectivity between nature-based solutions and surrounding natural areas.

A 1-metre management strip will be kept clear with the brush cutter. The woodland edge will be maintained with coppice management with a turnaround time of 12-15 years. The herb-rich grassland is mowed 2-3x/year and the clippings are disposed of. The grassland is managed more intensively and mowed frequently along with the paths and the strip along the paved path. The flower meadow is cut twice a year and the clippings are disposed of.
In the wadi, willow cuttings are removed annually. The embankment is mowed at a mowing frequency similar to the herb-rich grassland.