"The temporary greenery moves through the city and will later be given a permanent place in the center."
The municipality of Arnhem has taken an innovative step in greening the city centre. Placing trees in containers at various strategic locations not only enhances the city's visual appeal, but also raises awareness of the importance of greenery in urban spaces. The moving city forest is a mobile green project meandering through the centre of Arnhem, serving both aesthetic and educational purposes.
The initiative aims not only to improve air quality and green the city, but also to increase knowledge among citizens and the municipality itself. The walking forest provides a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to learn more about the possibilities and consequences of placing greenery in an urban environment. By not placing the trees in a fixed location but letting them move around the city, the public is encouraged to become aware of the dynamics that greenery can bring to their living environment.
A total of 50 trees have been selected to form the moving urban forest. The choice of trees was made carefully, with an emphasis on native and climate-robust species that contribute to biodiversity and withstand the challenges of urban life. These trees should not only be visually attractive, but also resistant to displacement and transport, which was an important consideration in the selection. Choosing trees that can withstand a lot will ensure the sustainability of the project, even in an urban environment where trees often face disturbed soil, limited root space and contamination.
Another essential element of the design is the underplanting placed around the trees. This not only helps maintain moisture in the containers, but also provides an additional layer of biodiversity. Adding undergrowth allows the trees to grow optimally and makes them less susceptible to drying out - a common problem in urban environments.
The tree containers are designed to be easily moved. Using a pump truck, the containers can be moved to different locations in the city quickly and without much effort. This makes the layout of the centre flexible and dynamic. By regularly changing the arrangement of the trees, different combinations of species and sizes can be created. This contributes to visual diversity and prevents the layout from feeling monotonous or static.
Besides the variation in tree species, the Municipality of Arnhem has also provided diversity in tree shapes. The rambling forest contains both tall trees and multi-trunked trees, creating an interesting variety in the streetscape. Among the trees in the promenade are Acer campestre (high stem), Amelanchier lamarckii (multi-stem), Crataegus persimilis ‘Splendens’ (multi-stem), Betula pendula (multi-stem) and Fraxinus excelsior ‘Altena’ (high stem). Together, these trees form a beautiful, varied ensemble that reflects the different seasons and contributes to the ecological value of the centre.
The walking forest has been moving through the city since the summer of 2024, and will continue to do so for a period of up to two years. This gives the municipality the chance to experiment with different combinations and set-ups and to investigate which trees thrive best in Arnhem's urban climate. After this period, the aim is to give the trees a permanent stand at one of the locations they have walked past. This not only provides a permanent green addition to the city, but also helps to further integrate the experience of the walking forest into the daily lives of Arnhem residents.
The walking forest in Arnhem is an example of how cities can find innovative ways to integrate greenery into their urban structures. It is a project that not only increases the aesthetic value of the city, but also contributes to raising awareness of the ecological and social benefits of urban green space. By placing trees in containers, it becomes possible to bring greenery into the city in a flexible and dynamic way, without disrupting the city's permanent infrastructure.
