Project title: Knowledge exchange project: Conservation of indigenous heritage trees (identification, propagation, dissemination and public awareness)
Project partners: Provincie Oost-Vlaanderen-Dienst Erfgoed (East Flanders, B); Stichting Het Zeeuwse Landschap (Zeeland, NL); Kent County Council-Plan Tree Delivery (Kent, UK); Regionaal Landschap Houtland & Polders (West Flanders, B); Regionaal Landschap Leie en Schelde (West Flanders, B); Regionaal Landschap Westhoek (West Flanders, B); Regionaal Landschap West-Vlaamse Hart (West Flanders, B)
Project duration: October 2025 – June 2027
Grant awarded: 52,500 € (East Flanders, West Flanders, Zeeland); £7,804.50 (Kent)
Project status : Approved
Project objectives
Preserving and restoring unique indigenous natural heritage, particularly native varieties of trees, is a challenge shared across the Straits Committee area. In East- and West-Flanders, Zeeland and Kent, current efforts and projects have generated much valuable experience.
This project brings together organisations involved in heritage tree restoration in East and West-Flanders, Zeeland and Kent. Over the course of two years, the partners will exchange knowledge on:
- The propagation of indigenous heritage trees (focus varies from monumental trees, to hedges, to orchards, etc.)
- Combatting plant diseases (e.g. Dutch elm disease) in relation to climate change
- Inventorying and registration of information (comparing different inventory systems and methodologies, GIS-system, etc)
- Dissemination of planting material
- Engaging the community and public awareness
The project is built around face-to-face exchanges that combine guided visits to relevant sites, and seminars and workshops with local experts. The knowledge captured will be shared widely in each region. This will reinforce each other's projects and initiatives and, in so doing, start to build an international network of expertise for future collaboration.