BioBlitz Lookback – Tour through Amelisweerd

An oasis of tranquility next to the USP

The Bioblitz 2025, organized by the GreenOffice UU and HU, is back with fun, green activities around the Utrecht Science Park!

We joined the tour of Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen with guides Tieneke de Groot and Jos Kloppenberg. Our starting point was the Denver House – the old GreenOffice office! In front of the office is a fragrant linden tree – perfect for shelter and ideal for critters nearby.

Did you know?

The linden tree has a rich bloom and is then abundantly pollinated by bees and bumblebees. The linden tree produces linden honey, its flowers can be used to make herbal tea, and its soft wood is suitable for wood carving.

We walked on toward Amelisweerd. Near the volleyball court, you’ll find tables and benches where you can relax and enjoy the sun, surrounded by wild-growing greenery. The only areas that are still being mowed are the playing field itself.

Did you know?

Less mowing leads to weeds. Nettles might not seem like much as plants, but they are of great value to animals. They contain many nutrients that animals need. For example, a beautiful butterfly like the red admiral cannot reproduce without the nettle.

Crossing the wooden bridge, you’ll come across the pollarded willows, leaning almost sideways over the water. Pollarding is the removal of a tree’s crown. Pollarded trees have been a familiar sight in the cultural landscape for centuries.

Did you know?

A crack willow can grow up to 30 meters tall, but it is usually pollarded at a height of 2 meters, making it a pollarded willow (any willow that is pollarded becomes a pollarded willow).

We continued on to the Vogelenbos. The name says it all: this is a wonderful place for birdwatching. Here you’ll also find large, centuries-old trees, and nature is truly left to take its course. A fallen tree becomes the perfect place for insects and fungi to thrive. Tieneke grabbed a bit of soil from the tree where you could really smell the fungi – it reminded us of the past – the scent of playing outside!

Toward the end, we stopped by a tree with berries. What stood out was that the leaves at the tips of the branches were all curled up. Tieneke explained that this was caused by a little creature that had made its “home” there. The curled leaves make an ideal hiding spot.

Did you know?

Small mammals you might occasionally encounter around city trees include squirrels, moles, bats, hedgehogs, and various types of mice. These mammals are drawn to all the insects they can find in the trees.

Because of a meeting, a few of us had to leave early. Still, it was nice to break up such a busy day with a calming walk through Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen. As you can see, there’s so much to discover – don’t forget to take your time for it, and try wandering a bit farther from the USP next time.

Want more BioBlitz/GreenOffice activities? Check out our calendar or follow us on Instagram @greenofficehu!

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