From today, more than sixty trees on the Jaarbeursplein in Utrecht provide an example and draw attention to greening in petrified areas. The Bomenbal Utrecht is an initiative of Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal and was opened yesterday by councilor Eelco Eerenberg (station area).
‘I warmly welcome this initiative, because it contributes to a greener and healthier station area, which is rapidly developing. And the fact that this has been achieved by various parties in the station area shows the great commitment to make the station area a bit more beautiful together. With this initiative we are temporarily greening the station area until we finally add a lot of greenery. For example, we are adding extra greenery on Lombokplein, Jaarbeursplein and the Beurskwartier.’
20 tree species green the square
This spring and summer, the Bomenbal Utrecht will provide cleaner air, cooling, an increase in biodiversity and better absorption of rainwater. ‘It is high time to experience what greenery can do in the petrified city!’, says Bart van Leeuwen, chairman of Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal, at the opening. The project was realized with the support of the municipality of Utrecht and the Utrecht Entrepreneurs Fund, with various companies and organizations from the city adopting a tree. ‘All trees will remain standing until the end of September when the Future Green City conference is in the city. They then find a new place in and around the station area in containers or open ground,” Van Leeuwen shows.
The Mosaic Oak, the Yellow Dogwood, the Silver Birch and the Spanish Barge, among others, decorate the Jaarbeursplein near the stairs. Tree specialists put together a palette of twenty tree species and forty plant species in the containers to promote biodiversity. Each tree contains information about the tree species and where it thrives for biodiversity.
Festive opening week for everyone
The festive opening week of Bomenbal Utrecht has something for everyone. All Utrecht residents and commuters are invited for a lunch walk with green facts in the station area, a tree concert and the Bomenbalmarkt full of cuttings, plants and knowledge about biodiversity in your city garden or on your balcony. The opening week ends on Thursday with a Bomenbalgala for all employees of the companies in the station area and local residents. ‘After the first week, the Tree Ball will be available to all organizations that want to organize something in green areas. We have a ball book full of ideas: from a picnic to a pub quiz with colleagues,” Van Leeuwen shows.
About Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal
Green Business Club Utrecht Centraal is a network organization of companies located in the station area or connected to it. The participants are jointly committed to further making the station area and their own business operations more sustainable and lively. They do this through concrete projects and knowledge sharing. The station area in Utrecht will become a place in the city where it is pleasant to work, live and stay during the period when the area is in full development.
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Trees form a green oasis on Jaarbeursplein
