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The local council in Belgium’s capital city is handing out 2,000 trees to residents with a garden or unpaved space available to plant them in.
Aiming to create a greener urban landscape in Belgium’s capital city, Antwerp’s local council is embarking on a project that invites citizens to get involved in re-greening their surroundings.
Through an initiative named ‘Neighbourhood in Bloom’ (Buurt in Bloei), Antwerp will see its residents gifted 2,000 trees to be planted in gardens or unpaved spaces.
The scheme not only aims to enhance the natural aesthetic of the city but also seeks to tackle pressing environmental challenges such as heatwaves, floods, and air pollution.
A total of 23 different tree species have been carefully selected for the project, based on their suitability to urban environments. These will help to mitigate the urban heat island effect—a phenomenon where cities experience elevated temperatures compared to their rural surroundings.
To begin planting trees, residents only need to complete a short questionnaire regarding their available space and sunlight exposure. This information will help officials determine the most suitable tree species for each location, ensuring optimal growth and sustainability.
Beyond offering a more aesthetically pleasing environment for city-dwellers, the project will help improve health and safety of all life in the capital.
Rain gardens also slow the flow of water into drains, so the combined sewage system doesn't get overwhelmed as often, & fewer sewage discharges & floods occur; any area of green helps cool towns & cities in the summer. They need maintenance, which creates jobs. https://t.co/lmR1fAUaQU
— watershed_investigations (@WATERSHED_i) May 13, 2024
