How a green space worker in Assen enhances neighborhood safety and beauty
Sebastian Wesseling, a green space maintenance worker in Assen, improves sidewalks and footpaths for residents by meticulously edging grass. His work not only enhances the visual appeal but also supports local biodiversity, making neighborhoods safer and more pleasant.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Worker | Sebastian Wesseling |
| Role | Green space maintenance worker |
| Location | Assen (Marsdijk and Noorderpark districts) |
| Primary Task | Edging sidewalks and footpaths with a specialized mower |
| Season for Edging | Spring (typically until mid-April) |
| Winter Tasks | Thinning shrubs, pruning trees, and sawing with a brush cutter |
| Biodiversity Focus | Reduces pruning to protect habitats for insects, birds, and hedgehogs |
| Blade Replacement | Every two weeks or sooner |
| Impact on Residents | Wider, clearer, and more attractive sidewalks |
The municipality of Assen employs green space maintenance workers like Sebastian to ensure public spaces remain safe, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing. Their work directly contributes to the quality of life for residents by maintaining infrastructure and supporting local ecosystems.
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‘Working for the residents pays off for Sebastian Wesseling’
With safety goggles on, ear protection in and gloves on, green space maintenance worker Sebastian Wesseling is mowing the footpaths and sidewalks in Assen. He mainly operates his edging mower in the Marsdijk and Noorderpark districts.
“The edging mower cuts the grass with a rotating blade precisely where the grass overhangs the kerbstones of the sidewalks,” Sebastian explains. “The sidewalk looks neater and more attractive this way. For residents, the path becomes wider and clearer because the kerbstones are visible again.” Kerbstones are narrow paving stones used as a finish for the sidewalk.
Skill
Sebastian takes to the edging mower every year, usually in spring. He typically continues until mid-April, when the grass is mowed again. Sebastian: “You do need a certain feel for it. The blade of the edging mower shouldn’t be too close to the kerbstones, or sparks will fly. But it shouldn’t be too far away either, because then you’ll have to do more hoeing afterwards and won’t have a straight line.” He replaces the blade every two weeks, sometimes sooner.
Winter work
“In winter, I do other work, such as thinning out shrubs or trees,” our colleague continues. “I also do a lot of sawing with the brush cutter. For example, pruning willow branches because they need to be trimmed. Or oak branches because they’re (threatening to) overhang or because the trees are growing too close together.”
Flora and fauna
“In recent years, we’ve been sawing and pruning less and less because we take into account small animals that seek shelter or food in plants, shrubs or trees,” Sebastian explains. “Think of insects, birds or hedgehogs. Sometimes we only remove thirty percent of what we would normally cut back. This benefits biodiversity, a greater variety of flora and fauna.”
Well done
What Sebastian likes most about his work is that it’s “nice to be outside in the fresh air.” “But also the compliments for my work and the fact that I’m working for the residents really motivate me. And I take pride in my work. When we’ve finished edging and everything is tidied up, I think: we’ve done a good job.”