Together with landowners, volunteers, and green organizations, Deputy Mirjam Sterk planted dozens of shrubs in Doorn on January 23, 2026, to create a shrub hedge. Planting the hedge marked the start of various distribution campaigns by Plan Boom Utrecht over the next three years. In total, 130,000 trees will be distributed in the province of Utrecht.
The distribution campaigns are an initiative of Plan Boom Utrecht, a collaboration of the Nature and Environmental Federation Utrecht, Landscape Heritage Utrecht, Forest Groups Central Netherlands, and Stukje Natuur. They organize the distribution campaigns and advise landowners on the importance and planting of trees and shrubs. People could request trees and tree packages until January 2026. The province of Utrecht financially supports the distribution campaigns. This fits within the Strategic Forest Policy of the province, which aims to increase the current forest area by 1,500 hectares. Together with many organizations, the province works on more vital, future-proof, protected, and socially valued forests, where every tree counts.
Everyone can green their environment
Plan Boom Utrecht makes it possible for everyone to green their own environment. In January 2026, there are distribution campaigns for different groups; one for estate owners, one for residents of villages and cities, and one for everyone who wants to create or strengthen landscape elements. In total, 32,000 trees and shrubs will be distributed in January.
Landscape elements important for nature
Deputy Mirjam Sterk (Nature and Agriculture) helped plant a mixed shrub hedge on Friday, January 23, in the garden of H.J. van der Tak in Hydepark de Lanen in Doorn. A shrub hedge, also called a landscape element, is a boundary of shrubs planted next to each other – often hawthorn or blackthorn. Landscape elements are important for nature. They are places where birds, insects, and small mammals can nest, hide, and find food. Landscape elements connect habitats so that plants and animals can better spread and develop. Additionally, landscape elements also give an area character.
Happy with help
Mirjam Sterk appreciated the efforts of everyone who helped with the planting: “We live in a province where space is scarce and at the same time many people want to live, work, and recreate. That is very nice, but it must not come at the expense of nature. Therefore, planting young trees and shrubs is very important, and I am very happy that landowners are helping us with this. They are still small trees and shrubs now, but in a few months the saplings will be in leaf and biodiversity can increase. A good example of sustainable and future-proof design of our rural area. We hope, of course, that many more landowners want to help us to get more nature in our province this way.”
Plan Boom Utrecht
Plan Boom Utrecht stands for a powerful approach to improve and restore nature. The initiative of the Nature and Environmental Federation Utrecht (NMU), Landscape Heritage Utrecht (LEU), Forest Groups Central Netherlands, and Stukje Natuur receives financial support from the province of Utrecht. Plan Boom Utrecht organizes several distribution campaigns over the next three years. For current information, visit www.planboom.nl/utrecht external link.
For press information:
cor.van.der.leemputten@provincie-utrecht.nl
06 14 75 81 45