Westerkwartier kicks off 'Every child a tree' with 3,240 fruit trees for young residents
Children in Westerkwartier are receiving free fruit trees as part of a local green initiative. The project aims to plant 64,000 trees—one for every resident—while teaching kids about sustainability and nature. Over 3,200 trees have already been requested, marking a strong start.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Westerkwartier |
| Total trees to be planted | 64,000 |
| Trees requested | 3,240 |
| Most popular tree | Apple (1,038 requests) |
| Tree height | ~200 cm |
| First recipient | Jelmer Tigchelaar (age 5) |
| Nursery partner | Kwekerij Drint (Grootegast) |
| Varieties available | 25 |
The municipality of Westerkwartier is responsible for local environmental policies and community initiatives, including sustainability projects like 'Every child a tree.' By involving schools and residents, the municipality aims to foster long-term ecological awareness and improve the region’s green infrastructure.
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First fruit tree awarded for 'Every child a tree' project
Today, the municipality of Westerkwartier began distributing fruit trees for the 'Every child a tree' project. The initiative is part of the ambition to plant a tree for every resident, totaling 64,000 trees. Primary school children and school staff were able to request a free fruit tree over the past few weeks. In total, 3,240 enthusiasts have requested a tree, a fine result.
Deputy Mayor Bert Nederveen: “It’s wonderful to see the enthusiasm of the children. A fruit tree may seem like a small thing, but it holds significance for the future. That’s why we find it important to involve children in this.”
Collaboration with Kwekerij Drint
The distribution of the fruit trees is taking place at Kwekerij Drint in Grootegast, which is supporting the municipality in implementing the project. The nursery is supplying sturdy trees of about 200 cm in height. It is expected that the first fruits will appear within a year. A total of 25 different fruit tree varieties have been ordered. Apple trees were particularly popular (1,038), followed by cherry trees (800), pear trees (723), and plum trees (585).
Symbolic first fruit tree
This afternoon, Deputy Mayor Bert Nederveen presented the first fruit tree to five-year-old Jelmer Tigchelaar from Boerakker. After hearing about the initiative, Jelmer spontaneously walked into the town hall to thank the municipality. That’s why he had the honor of symbolically receiving the first tree today. With the distribution of the fruit trees, the municipality of Westerkwartier is taking another step toward a greener living environment, together with the youngest residents who are already actively contributing to it.