Working on nature
This is how we maintain our green spaces
Fresh grass to play on. Flowerbeds with spring flowers in all colours. A quiet place for animals to live. All this seems very common. But this public green space needs care. Public green space means that everyone can use it, such as parks, public gardens and verges. In some places, we as a municipality are responsible for maintenance. This means that sometimes we mow the grass more often or shorter in one place than another. And sometimes we remove trees instead of planting them. That may sound contradictory, but we often have a good reason for doing so. Want to know how we do it? Then read on.
This is what the municipality is doing
-
Mowing
During the growing season, the grass (lawns and verges) in Lelystad is mowed. Most side verges along the avenues are mowed twice a year, once in June and once at the end of September/October. This creates flower-rich verges. This is good for wild pollinators such as bees and butterflies.
-
Fighting weeds
Weeds can lead to slipperiness and clogged drains. Since 2015, Lelystad no longer uses chemical agents for weed control on pavements. In Lelystad, we use a combination of burning, hot air and brushing.
-
Major maintenance
Together, we are working on a more beautiful city. For instance by resurfacing avenues, major maintenance in residential areas, bicycle paths, playing facilities and green spaces. Major maintenance involves the rebuilding of public spaces. A big job!
-
Tree maintenance
We check all trees in Lelystad for safety, health and whether they need pruning. We call this 'duty of care'. Dangerous trees are pruned or removed. If a tree has to be cut down, we try to plant a new tree back.
Keeping nature in balance
Public green space is important for everyone! Of course, we want everything to look neat and tidy. But plants and animals often need different needs and care. This sometimes makes maintenance quite difficult. The municipality plants trees, flowers and bushes. These attract bees, birds and other animals. Animals are an important part of nature. Good green space management ensures more biodiversity (different plants and animals). And so we make everyone happy: residents, animals and plants.
Give nature a helping hand - With smart and simple solutions
-
Less mowing for the bee orchid
A special plant is growing on the verge near Batavia Stad: the bee orchid. To give this rare orchid a chance to bloom, we mow this verge less often. The flower blooms in May and June and looks like a bee: brown with yellow markings and hairy at the edges. See if you can find one!
-
Let the sand bee refuel
On a stretch of verge near the Binnenhavenweg, we scraped away the top layer of soil. This means that there is no grass growing, but sandy soil, creating a safe place for bees to shelter in winter. Bees need a place where they can hide and survive the cold.
-
Caterpillar under control
The oak processionary caterpillar can harm people and trees. That is why we plant flower bulbs that attract birds and parasitic wasps. And we put nesting boxes on the trees where the oak processionary caterpillar is. We do this for great tits and blue tits, which eat 60 to 70 caterpillars a day. This way, we do not have to use chemicals, but let the animals do the work.
-
Volunteers in nature management
Landschapsbeheer Flevoland & Gemeente Lelystad work together for nature. The seepage strip in Lelystad (near Bataviastad) is managed by volunteers. Thanks to their hard work, this is not just another verge but a natural place for animals and plants. A group of volunteers also carry out work in the Bergbos forest. Landschapsbeheer gives advice and provides tools.
-
Organic bulbs
On the Westerdreef roundabout, we plant organic flower bulbs, which bloom beautifully and help insects such as bees and butterflies. These bulbs were specially chosen because they do not harm local nature and are safe for animals. With these flowers, we not only make the roundabout more beautiful, but also contribute to a healthier environment for nature.
-
Combating invasive species
Invasive species are animals or plants that do not originally occur in our natural environment, but are rapidly becoming established here. Well-known examples of invasive species are Japanese knotweed and Giant hogweed. These species are also called 'invasive exotics'. They crowd out the plants that belong here and that is not good for nature. That is why we want to combat invasive species. We remove the plants before they are fully grown.
Always informed about the work
Maintenance in the neighbourhood may mean that you temporarily have to drive differently. Or that certain places are closed for a while. Maintenance takes place on the avenues, roads, cycle paths and near the trees. This work is planned in advance. You can see what work and projects we are currently working on on the Groot Onderhoud Lelystad Facebook page. And what that might mean for you.
The Quality Structure Plan
To monitor the quality of our streets, parks and squares, we work according to the Quality Structure Plan. This plan helps us keep Lelystad clean, safe and tidy.
This includes:
- How we divide the city into areas, such as the Stadshart, the coast or the residential areas, and what each area needs.
- What we look out for, such as traffic safety and the state of streets and parks.
- How we tackle public space maintenance every year.
