Politie Noord-Holland tree planting event at Camping Rorik

The day started cold and early, with negative temperatures, treating us to a wonderful sunrise. The trees had been buried over a meter deep, which made it hard to get them out of the frozen ground. We had to be very meticulous with our preparations for this event, as it involved detailed and specific landscaping. We were lucky to receive two groups of volunteers, a smaller one in the morning, and a bigger one in the afternoon. These groups consisted mainly of police coaches, buddies, and agents recovering from traumatic experiences on the field. For them, planting trees was not only a good deed, but also a way to reintegrate social life through meaningful and communal action. Atse, the landowner gave a wonderful introduction to his project and aims, stimulating all volunteers to brave the cold and plant intensely for several hours in a row. He told us, among other things, that this land used to be, a few centuries ago, the riverbed of the old Ij river. This river is symbolic of the Noord-Holland region, connecting the inland sea to the North Sea. This old riverbed is full of minerals, creating a rich and fertile soil, predominantly composed of river clay, a blessing for the indigenous trees we selected for this site. This geological advantage should ensure a high tree survival rate, enhancing the long term impact this tree planting activity will have.

We were lucky to have an indoor and comfortable area to rest and get warm during short coffee breaks. But it was outside, shovel in hand, that most volunteers seemed most comfortable. They planted at an incredible pace, planting beyond our expectations. Of course, Atse was extremely happy with these motivated volunteers, and supported us throughout the event, guiding and supervising the plantings around the different plots with us. The same dynamic repeated itself with the afternoon group, who came with even more arms than the morning team.

Thank you Politie Noord-Holland for dedication, hard work. and generosity!

Event Organiser: