Link to article: Volkskrant
Frank Meijer of MTD landscape architects was part of the welcoming committee for the elm and spoke with de Volkskrant about the tree’s unique qualities, the factors that influence healthy rooting in its new location, and the art of "dating a tree."
“A tree’s cooling capacity is only part of the equation,” says Meijer. “Equally important is whether a tree can thrive in the local soil, and whether it's resilient against diseases and – increasingly relevant due to climate change – extreme weather conditions. Biodiversity also plays a role: there’s hope that the white-letter hairstreak butterfly, a species that was recently critically endangered, will find its way to the new elm in Eindhoven.”
But for Meijer, it ultimately comes down to a more emotional decision.
“It’s a bit like dating,” he explains. “You have to stand right in front of a tree – only then will you know if it’s the right one.” A matter of physical appeal, but also sentimental value.
“My parents had a massive walnut tree in their backyard where I spent many hours climbing as a child. So at every project, I try to plant a walnut if the site allows for it.”
And so in Eindhoven, just a stone’s throw from the elm, a new walnut tree now grows. Perhaps side by side for the next hundred years.
