What this leaf blower is doing now, nature will soon do itself

Wind, water, and sand are being given room to move again on the Boschplaat. On Friday, June 12, the symbolic start was given on the beach of Terschelling for the creation of notches and a washover in the Stuifdijk. These measures are intended to restore the natural dynamics of the Boschplaat.

It is a sound you don't often hear on the beaches of Terschelling: an electric leaf blower. Yet, that very leaf blower played a starring role today. At the symbolic kickoff of the work on the Boschplaat, the device sent sand flying in a playful gesture to signal the start of a series of measures from the Boschplaat vision.

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“We are literally breathing new life into the dynamics of the Boschplaat,” said Bert Hummelen at the launch event. Attendees included members of the Boschplaat program steering committee, representatives from the Programmatic Approach to Large Waters (PAGW), as well as staff from Staatsbosbeheer, contractor Van den Herik Sliedrecht, and engineering firm Witteveen+Bos.

'A rescue plan' for the Boschplaat

On the Boschplaat, the European nature reserve, UNESCO World Heritage Site and Dark Sky Park on the island of Terschelling, a range of measures is being implemented to make the area more resilient to future challenges and climate change. These measures are set out in the Boschplaat Vision, the "rescue plan for the Boschplaat." The construction of the notches and the washover is funded by the Province of Fryslân and the PAGW programme.

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Some of these measures are being carried out on and around the Stuifdijk, a dune ridge that was artificially constructed in the 1930s to anchor the Boschplaat to Terschelling. The plans include two clusters of dune notches and one wide opening, known as a washover, in the Stuifdijk. These openings will once again allow wind, water and sand to reach the Boschplaat. Restoring this natural dynamic is essential for biodiversity and for the natural build-up of sediment, helping the area to rise naturally over time.

Island residents involved in preparations‍

Following a tender process earlier this year, contractor Van den Herik Sliedrecht was selected to carry out the construction of the channels and washovers. Preparations for the implementation and permit applications are currently underway.

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Island residents are being involved in the preparations as much as possible. Work is expected to begin after the 2027 breeding season. The Boschplaat will remain accessible during the work.