It’s amazing how the municipality of Utrecht thinks ahead. These kinds of connecting projects only make us happy. But companies are also investing more and more in ‘Corporate Food Forests’ in order to focus on ‘corporate culture’. But that’s another story of course. Find out more about it here .
Utrecht will have a food forest in the middle of a residential area. The food forest will be more than 15,000 m2 and will be located in the Rijnvliet residential area in Leidsche Rijn. The public space in Rijnvliet is also designed on the basis of the food forest principle: trees and plants that, for example, bear edible fruit wherever possible. The fact that a food forest is fully integrated in a residential area is a first for the Netherlands, and unique in Europe. The plan for the establishment of the central food forest was announced today. It will be a place where nature, play and education will come together for the entire district.
The plan was developed in response to the wish of alderman Kees Geldof to involve current residents of the Rijksstraatweg and future residents of Rijnvliet in the interpretation and design of the public space of the new district. Or how thinking about the future together pays off.
Establishment of a central food forest
In addition to a lot of greenery, the central food forest will also provide space to play and recreate. The historic neighborhood orchard is integrated into the plan. It will retain its open character and will have a pitch with a grandstand. Local residents can gather here and have a picnic, for example. There will also be (water) play areas and Rijnvliet primary school will have an outdoor classroom where students can learn about nature. Early next year, the construction of the northern part of the central food forest, which borders the primary school and the Metal Cathedral, will start.
Rijnvliet, the edible residential neighborhood
The residents of the Rijksstraatweg and the Metaalkathedraal came up with the idea to create a food forest in Rijnvliet. A special concept for the public space has been developed in collaboration with the municipality: the edible residential area with a central food forest. At the end of 2019, the sketch design for the central food forest was presented to the residents of Rijnvliet, the Rijksstraatweg and the Rijnvliet Child Center. The responses and comments that were collected were used for the final design of the food forest.
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To be continued.
