Holland Trip – The Forests of Apeldoorn

Even though I’m back over a week from the Pro Silva Ireland trip to Holland, I haven’t been able to get my head around blogging about it until now.  I could say it’s because we saw so much in just two full days, – but that might give the impression that it was a hectic, crammed type of tour.  It wasn’t.  From the moment we were met at Amsterdam airport by Martjin Boosten, our host, the pace was relaxed and there was a luxurious feeling of having plenty of time.   We did see a lot though and it has taken me the week to let it all filter through and get it written up for my own notes.

I’ll leave it to the two students who accompanied us on the tour, Patrick Moore and Matthew Stuart, to write the full reports, which will be on the Pro Silva Ireland website for all to read before too long.

Henk Bonekamp in Apeldoorn

When Henk Bonekamp started out as Forest Manager of the Municipality he was asked to clearfell seven hectacres of forest per year and replant with Scots pine and Douglas fir.  He became more and more dissatisfied with this approach, deciding it was too wasteful.  Instead he began to manage the forests, working with what was there and what came after thinning, and below you can see the vast difference in the results of his decision:

Faith Wilson and Cathy Fitzgerald stand beside one of the remaining trees from the original plantation. Henk's decision 27 years ago not to clearfell the plantation has resulted in this lovely mixed forest

This started out at the same time and in the same way as the previous picture but was clearfelled and replanted 27 years ago.

Seeing the two forest compartments side by side, on either side of the forest road, had a dramatic effect. In the first site the large trees were felled over time and no trees were planted. In the second site all the trees were cut down in one go and the whole site was replanted again. Two very different approaches with very different results. Needless to say we all preferred the first.

Henk Bonekamp, centre, speaking to the group with his superb forest in the background.

Patrick Moore giving some perspective to the size of the Douglas fir as early regeneration just starts to creep in.

Henk explained to us that there is no need to fuss about getting regeneration.  If the forest is well thinned according to Pro Silva principles, and patience is exercised, it will come.  These Douglas fir forests reached nearly fifty years old before regeneration appeared. And then it appeared in abundance.  Nature seems to know the best time to send in the young trees. And Henk’s patience paid off.  Just look at this vibrant regeneration in the photo below:

Hal Chevasse disappearing into dense Douglas fir regeneration in an older forest.

Angela Coffey and Matt Stuart listen closely while Henk's daughter Susan, also a forester, looks on.

Student Patrick Moore and Forest Manager Jim Simpson from Baronscourt share observations and ideas on the way back to the bus.

It’s coming on these trips with Pro Silva that real quality learning happens. Being in the forest is the place to learn about forestry. It’s all there to see. No need for hugely lengthy descriptions. It becomes obvious. And how fortunate that this family of Europe wide foresters are so willing to share their knowledge so freely.  No need for guarding their invaluable research built up for many years. It’s freely offered.

See what I mean about this being a relaxed trip? Martijn had organized this much needed break in a near by forest park to sip drinks and unwind after a day of fairly intense forest learning.

Related posts:

1. Visit to Holland – “Het Loo” Royal Estate and Badger Mountain
2. The Beauty of Rosebay Willowherb
3. Forests Evolve – You Can’t Plant Them

Tags: Holland, Pro Silva Ireland