Reynaertwijk

The neighbourhood indicated that extra commitment to nature and play was needed at this location given the limited use of the playground, its location near the canal forest and its valuable reed vegetation. In collaboration with the Regionaal Landscaap Leie en Schelde, a plan was drawn up in which nature and play could go together and extra biodiversity would be created. A climate-robust design with future value for people and animals.
The original subdivision already provided for buffer basins, a wadi with pollard trees and a small playground. However, it soon became clear that nature developed surprisingly quickly here and that the playground had limited use. This inspired the neighbourhood and the city to invest further in a green, adventurous play environment. There were opportunities in this location that were not being exploited. So we wanted to revisit the previous layouts and provide a new, better and natural layout to meet the neighbourhood and future.
Here, we needed to take into account the nature already present and upgrade it, as valuable reed vegetation was rapidly developing. But the request to create a more natural, adventurous playground with an eye for less mobile children was also respected. Maximum efforts were made to preserve (pollarded) trees.

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;
• Implement those natural processes in a way that is consistent with other actions undertaken to address these challenges (e.g. rehabilitate native plant species around water amenities that are set up to improve water management, …);
• Strengthen ecological connectivity between nature-based solutions and surrounding natural areas.

Included in the management plan: phased mowing of the reed bed, extensive wet grassland management, proper management of (pollarded) trees, …
The play area will be maintained through our own services. This is not an additional cost as this was already done through regular maintenance.
The nature area will be maintained by a social partner Constructief, with 2 days’ work (4 people) to mow part of the reeds and clear the thickets every year.
The willow tunnel in the design has not yet been realised but we envisage doing this during the pruning work on the pollard willows. This is because we want to use the prunings to also work in a circular way to realise this.