Building Together for a Sustainable Future in Wijboschbroek

In Wijboschbroek, on the east side of Schijndel, we are adapting the water system and adding 33 hectares of new nature.

In Wijboschbroek, on the east side of Schijndel, the water board Aa en Maas, the province, and Staatsbosbeheer are working together on large-scale nature restoration. Rainwater is currently draining too quickly and the soil is acidifying due to the presence of coniferous trees and oaks. As a result, the area is drying out more and more. Rare plant and animal species, such as the black-blue rapunzel and the crested newt, are struggling. Therefore, we are adjusting the water system and adding 33 hectares of new nature.

Approach to the Water System

In recent weeks, several ditches have already been made shallower or filled in, and an existing weir has been automated. Currently, excavators are working at Lobbenhoef, near the Zuid-Willemsvaart. The top 20 to 30 centimeters of the soil is being excavated. This layer is too nutrient-rich, which hinders the growth of desired plant species.

The excavated soil is being removed by ship via the canal. This means no trucks need to drive through the area. This results in less nuisance for the village center of Wijbosch and less disturbance to the already vulnerable nature.

This project fits seamlessly into our Brabant Dryness Agenda, where we work together on sustainable water management.

Saskia Boelema, Deputy for Water and Soil

A Look at the Location

Officials from the involved organizations came to take a look in the field and saw how everyone is contributing to an even more beautiful Wijboschbroek.

Ernest de Groot, a member of the Executive Board of the water board Aa en Maas, explained: “By making deep ditches a little shallower and more natural, we retain water longer in the area. Nature here desperately needs that. Also, for proper drainage, there can still be plenty of water flowing through. Water also comes here from Schijndel and Wijbosch via brooks and ditches.”

Deputy Saskia Boelema is enthusiastic: “With the start of the implementation in Wijboschbroek, we are taking a big step forward for nature and water together. By realizing 33 hectares of new nature and retaining more water, we strengthen the wet nature pearl and build a sustainable water system for Brabant. This project fits seamlessly into our Brabant Dryness Agenda, where we work together on sustainable water management.

Staatsbosbeheer is responsible for planting trees and shrubs in the area, as was done earlier in Wijboschbroek. Program manager Jan Fenten says: “Think of species such as fladder elm, alder, maple, and hornbeam. These species belong in a clay forest, but they have largely disappeared here. They enrich the soil with their leaves and contribute to a healthy forest that is ready for the future.”

Planning

The contractor is still working for a few weeks, after which the work will be on hold for a while. In winter, the soil is too wet to work. And from March to July, it is the breeding season. Then we leave the area alone. If everything goes according to plan, the work will be completed by March 2027 at the latest.