Instead of viewing the natural area as separate from the residential area, you can consider the residential area as an extension of the natural area.
Between Naaldwijk and ’s Gravenzande, the new residential area Waelpark is being developed. The area is owned by the municipality of Westland. As part of the Waelpark residential development, the municipality had a legal obligation to create an ecological corridor. DS designed the corridor in connection with the nature-inclusive development of the surrounding neighborhoods.
Goal
The ecological corridor of Waelpark is not a mandatory 25-meter-wide zone but a combination of landscape elements that together form a narrative running north to south. The neighborhoods contribute to the biodiversity of the area by incorporating nesting opportunities for bats, swallows, and small birds in the housing design. Initially, the focus was on preserving and enhancing the existing habitats for bats, fish, and amphibians. With the new construction, small mammals, birds, and insects will naturally be added. The cross-section illustrates the interconnectedness, where the residential area becomes an extension of the ecological corridor.
Design
The corridor consists of the following elements: the Atlantikwall tank trench, the willow rabat forest, the Dwarswetering, the old creek bed and the current Molensloot, the Meertje, the hilltop forest, and the shores and islands in the Waelplas. The interconnected diversity is maintained through the management of the emerging vegetation. The old rubble hill has been designed as a viewpoint.
The initial part of the design is being advanced through design-driven management. For this purpose, DS drafted the management plan (see project Management Plan Molensloot – Waelpark).
Details
The elements that make wildlife clearly visible have been designed for special locations within the zone. For example, the poles in the pond serve as resting spots for waterfowl, water collection points, a backdrop for several homes, and a water play feature.
To create cohesion, a consistent design style has been developed for bridges, benches, and viewpoints. Additionally, measures for building-dwelling species have been prescribed to developers for inclusion in the housing design.
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