In 2022 we started restoring 3.7 ha of largely monoculture pine plantations into a temperate deciduous forest. The forest is located in the Northern part of Limburg in the Netherlands, just about 2 km away from the Maas river. Thanks to the river deposits, its loamy sand soil is now one of the most species rich ecosystems of the Netherlands.
With the help of renowned Dutch ecologists we were able to determine the missing tree and shrub species that are likely to flourish when (re)introduced:
Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) aka Sporkehout
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) aka Es
Bird cherry (Prunus padus) aka Vogelkers
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) aka Bitterzoet
Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) aka Zwarte els
Common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) aka Rode kornoeltje
European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) aka Blauwe bosbes
Goat willow (Salix caprea) aka Boswilg
Grey willow (Salix cinerea) aka Grauwe wilg
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) aka Gelderse roos
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) aka Rode bosbes
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) aka Zomereik
Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) 
Alder buckthorn (Frangula alnus) 
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) 
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) 
Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) 
Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) 
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) 
Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara) 
Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) 
Black alder (Alnus glutinosa) 
Common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) 
Common dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) 
European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) 
European blueberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) 
Goat willow (Salix caprea) 
Goat willow (Salix caprea) 
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) 
Guelder rose (Viburnum opulus) 
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) 
Lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea) 
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) 
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) 
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur)