Houtsingel main structure Southern Westerkwartier (areas)

This file contains the main structure of the main windbreak of the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier in the province of Groningen. Wood belts, alder belts, hawthorn hedges and hedgerows are linear plantings with trees and/or shrubs. Wood girths have a varied composition of trees, alder girths mainly consist of alders and hawthorn hedges of hawthorns. These elements often form boundaries of plots or are partitions with a different function, originally usually as livestock barriers. Roughly speaking, two types can be distinguished: plants on an artificial earth bank (wooden embankment) and plants on the same level as the surrounding land (wood belt). Characteristic of the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier is the closed windbreak structure and the pingo ruins present therein. The hedgerows are under pressure due to an increase in scale in agriculture and the lack of sufficient maintenance. The pingo ruins are in danger of losing their value due to, among other things, deep plowing, leveling and sliding of the soil. Characteristic of the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier is the closed windbreak structure and the pingo ruins present therein. A distinction is made between sub-areas for the development and maintenance of the hedgerow structure in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier. The following categories are distinguished: preservation of canals, restoration of canals, (re)development of canals, conversion of canals for agriculture, conversion of canals for nature and passive management. Rules have been drawn up for each category. Rules have been included in Article 4.38 to protect the characteristic windbreak structure and the Pingo ruins in the Zuidelijk Westerkwartier.