Makan

The neighbourhood garden in the Heuzelsgootpark in Groenlo has been designed with the intention to make residents enthusiastic about natural gardening. The garden consists of smoothly flowing planting sections of drought-loving species. The garden is located on a former marshalling yard of the old railway area in Groenlo. The choice has been made not to improve this poor sandy soil but to choose plants that thrive in this situation.

At first, many different bees and bumble bees were observed, especially on round-headed leek (a kind of onion), salvia and oregano. A film from the first year provides a nice picture of the number of insects.

The garden has entered its third year and after two years of experience it can be said that the garden is a success for both insects and residents. Several residents of Groenlo switched to natural gardening after being inspired by the neighbourhood garden. Relatively speaking, the garden requires little maintenance. Only during a very hot summer (like in 2018) it needs water because of the poor sandy soil. This year in 2019 the garden is provided with a thick mulch layer to prevent the soil from drying out

The garden is interesting to see almost all year round. In February, all winter stems of the plants are cut into small pieces and scattered between the plants as mulch. Two weeks before the 800 daffodils Ice Follies are going to flower, the garden is an empty page that will be filled with spring colours in the coming period. 4500 perennials were used from Plant Nursery Lage Schaar in Aalten to construct the garden. Because we had already planted daffodil bulbs in autumn, we had to plant the perennials very carefully between the bulbs

Especially in the morning light, the Stipas Giganteas are the queens in the garden. A natural garden with perennials that change their flowering schedule every few weeks is an asset to any park. The costs do not outweigh the pleasure and the connection that people have with the garden. In addition, the variety of species and the number of insects has increased enormously. The garden is an oasis in an otherwise bare ecosystem.

The neighbourhood garden Heuzelsgoot in Groenlo is a garden designed to introduce residents to the different types of insects in the garden. The selected plants are very drought tolerant and occur naturally on poor sandy soil. An information board at the beginning of the garden explains the different types of plants that have been used.

The garden is also beautiful to see in winter. There is another important reason why the flower stems are not cut. During winter, these stems are a home for various insects. The garden therefore also is a large insect hotel.