Flemish Ocean gets 70 football pitches extra green | interior

The Flemish Ocean around Brussels has always been a beautiful and traditionally green area. The Flemish government is investing in maintaining and expanding all that green space. “The focus is on accessible green spaces, which residents and visitors to the Flemish fringes can effectively enjoy,” explains Ben Waits. “After all, the general public is of little use to large green plots that remain fully protected and enclosed.”

At the start of Forest Week, the two Flemish ministers will invest €2 million in nine green projects in the Flemish periphery. About 22,000 new trees will be planted. About 70 football fields will be added to the more accessible green space. In Percel, for example, some plots are being afforestation in order to recover part of the lost Zitterbos – which had to make way, among other things, for the construction of the Ring Road around Brussels and the railway line.

In Dilbeek, work is underway in Mullebos: a new ecological forest near the border with Brussels, where locals can relax and where visitors can learn more about nature. New park areas are being created in Vilford, Howellart and more.

Minister Waits asserts: “These investments are already saving more trees and we want to plant more trees in the coming years.” “We used to be happy if we could preserve the existing green spaces, but now we’re going a step further: we’re also introducing additional green spaces, which more people can enjoy.”
“For the past year and a half, we have rediscovered nature in Flanders. The call for accessible green spaces has been higher than ever. Certainly in our cities there has been a great need to take a break in green spaces. Every good initiative provides more Nature, which the Flemish can come and enjoy, can therefore count on all my support,” said Minister Demir.

The famous Hallerbos turns into a nature reserve