Burgemeester van Zwietenpark, ‘s-Hertogenbosch

The Burgemeester van Zwietenpark is an urban park that was developed in the 1970s. It forms an important part of the Maaspoort district, as it provides a central place for relaxation, recreation and social interaction for residents. The presence of the Noorderplas, walking paths and playgrounds contributes to the liveability and green character of the district.

Around 2019, there was a discussion in the Burgemeester van Zwietenpark about the felling of 29 large Caucasian wingnuts (park trees) approximately forty years old. There was a plan to remove these trees because the roots were lifting the asphalt of cycle and footpaths. This created unsafe situations. Ultimately, the felling did not take place following protests from residents. The large trees created a defining atmosphere in the park. As a result, there was strong opposition to their removal. At the last moment, it was decided to apply the root protection fabric RootControl from GreenMax. A new path was constructed and then the root protection fabric was applied. This saved the trees from being felled and kept the infrastructure intact.

Root protection fabric RootControl is used as a barrier between tree roots and infrastructure, such as roads and paths. When roots grow towards the fabric, they are blocked and therefore cannot continue growing in that direction. Because the roots are stopped, they no longer grow beneath the asphalt, preventing root damage in the long term. As a rule of thumb, root protection is generally installed at a distance of approximately two metres from the tree in order to maintain stability.

Today, park visitors and residents can still cycle, skate and walk along paths that are free from root damage without concern. Thanks to the measures taken, the routes remain safe and easily accessible for everyone, while the valuable nature and biodiversity in the park have been preserved.