Projects

creating more green and more biodiversity

What We Do

At the MeerGroen Foundation we work according to the ‘something for everyone’ principle: seven days a week you can do something in up to 25 different areas of interest. A variety of projects are being implemented in different areas: nature management and urban agriculture, but also the building of insect hotels, the planting of orchards, the construction of nature playgrounds, and nature awareness for young and old.

Improving biodiversity

Flower meadows, orchid route, trees & insects

We create beautiful flower meadows throughout the region, helping to support a natural environment for pollinators. An ecological corridor guides migrating insects and other animals as they travel between habitats. This site is divided into different strips, each with its own function, such as one with field herbs that bloom in the spring. We maintain the meadows, save and sort seeds and spread them in new areas.

Volunteers can help with:

– Manually removing unwanted species (e.g. thistle, sorrel, marsh, ragwort)

– Harvesting seeds from rare, special and ecologically extra valuable species

Work days: March to October. Seven days per week.

MeerBomen Nu – Campaign

In 4 seasons, 2 million trees were transplanted with 15,000 volunteers in the Netherlands and Germany.

Join us and help reduce CO2 levels.
1 kg of wood captures 2 kg of CO2!

Since 2023 initiatives have begun also in Ireland, England, Scotland and France – for more information visit the sites More trees now and Vite plus darbres

Join the campaign – with many hands we can make a bigger impact!

Solutions to the climate crisis

The MeerGroen Foundation has been organizing tree giveaway days since 2014. Since 2020, this has been scaled up to a national level in collaboration with the Urgenda & Caring Farmers Foundation through the MeerBomenNu initiative.

Work with nature: Nature produces an abundance of young trees and shrubs every year. Every oak, beech, hawthorn, willow, etc. produces thousands of seedlings (saplings) every year. These have an important function: they are eaten by wild animals and insects, some survive and are the new generation of trees and shrubs. But most don’t make it. They die and decay and thus contribute to the biotope, or they are removed and chopped as part of regular nature management. Read more

Volunteers can help with:

– Harvesting, sorting and bundling saplings.

Working days: November to March. Monday to Saturday in and around Haarlemmermeer and Heemstede. Find all harvest and distribution days via the Bomenplanner / Tree Planner, on the More Trees Now website and register! Please be advised this site is currently only available in Dutch.

Food Gardens – MEERGroente

MEERGroente (more vegetables) is a project of the meerGroen foundation with the aim of creating a local, healthy, sustainable and fresh food system. We grow vegetables, fruit and herbs in various gardens and greenhouses, which are for sale from May to November. The stall is located near the garden, so you immediately get to know the garden and the people who garden there. So you can see first hand where your food comes from! Would you like a tour of the garden or come and help?

Volunteers can help with:

– Planting, maintaining, harvesting

– Taking care of the stall and helping customers (Friday & Saturday)

Working days: Seasonal, usually Friday and Saturday.

Active Projects: Kas Rijsenhout & Lincolnpark. Vegetable stall: Read more

23 juli 2021 ©JvLoon Meermond Heemstede _VLL5380

Nature management

Stichting MEERGroen is dedicated to a diverse range of nature management projects focused on ecological sustainability. Our efforts include the careful stewardship of forests, the creation of nature-friendly shores, the construction of kingfisher perches, and the development of educational trails. We take pride in managing delicate orchid meadows, maintaining vibrant banks, and overseeing the care of estates, parks, and local green spaces within neighborhoods.

Volunteers can help with:

– Planting, maintaining, harvesting

Work days: Monday to Saturday.

Build and recycle

For a fun activity in autumn and winter, join us at Stichting MEERGroen in building insect hotels and nest boxes, crafted in a variety of sizes ranging from 30 cm to over 1 meter. We maintain a stock of these creations and also accept orders for delivery to companies. Each structure is thoughtfully constructed from repurposed materials, predominantly hardwood, which is often overlooked and discarded despite its potential to last between 10 to 30 years. Through our initiatives, we aim to highlight the issue of wastefulness in a positive light, encouraging a more sustainable mindset. Our installations are typically completed during the spring and summer months.

Work days: in consultation and depending on the weather.

Contact : Franke van de Laan info@stichtingmeergroen.nl / +31 6 48226490