The municipality of The Hague is restoring the special nature area in Westduin Park. This investment in nature in the dunes is possible thanks to a 2.7 million grant from the province of South Holland and an additional 1 million investment from the municipality. Alderman Robert Barker of The Hague and deputy Berend Potjer of the province of South Holland kicked off the work in the protected nature reserve today.
Alderman Robert Barker (Buitenruimte, Dierenwelzijn en Milieu) of The Hague is pleased with the substantial investments in nature: ‘The Westduin Park is a unique and important European dune area with a great wealth of different plant and animal species. An area that many Hague residents are proud of and enjoy visiting. The Westduin Park also has an important function: it protects us from rising sea levels. That is why it is necessary to start restoring nature now. We are grateful to the province of South Holland for their contribution to this important project.’
Berend Potjer of the province of Zuid-Holland: ‘The Westduin Park is a beautiful area where many plants and animals live that are only found in nutrient-poor dune areas. The area also has an important function for residents of The Hague who come here for recreation. To preserve the vulnerable nature in this area for the future, we need to take a number of measures now. It is great that the municipality is committed to this, together with residents and other stakeholders. From the province we support this both financially and with our knowledge of nature’.
Nature under pressure
Nature in Westduin Park is not doing well, the Ecological Authority concluded earlier this year. This is partly due to nitrogen emissions and the growth of plants that do not actually belong in the area. These exotics are increasingly replacing local plants that do occur naturally in the dunes, such as blue sea holly, creeping tall weed, fragrant salomon’s seal and wound clover. The exotics also tie up the dune too much, preventing the dune from drifting. This is bad for the quality of the dunes, which have an important function as natural coastal protection.
Nature restoration
To protect local plants and allow them to grow better, the municipality has already removed plants, such as the invasive Asian knotweed, in several places in the West Dune Park. This approach will be continued. Local plants and trees such as young oaks or the hawthorn will also be planted. To strengthen the formation of the dunes, additional marram grass will also be planted.
Photos provided by: Municipality of The Hague / Henriette Guest
Alderman Robert Barker of The Hague and deputy Berend Potjer of the province of South Holland remove a snowberry from Westduin Park. To strengthen nature, plants that do not actually belong in the dunes are removed.