Small plant, big success: Water-parsnip appears in a new pool near Huijbergen

Sometimes nature even surprises the managers. In a pond recently created by Evides Waterbedrijf in Huijbergen, Littorellauniflora (Littorella uniflora) has appeared – a rare plant that thrives in a clean environment with nutrient-poor sand and clear water. The discovery was reported by an observer via Waarneming.nl, a fine example of how nature lovers help to highlight changes in the landscape.

“We created the pond to enhance biodiversity. The fact that there is already so much flowering water-milfoil is a wonderful confirmation of the choices we made.” — Jeroen Willemsen, Site Management Coordinator, Evides Waterbedrijf

If you don’t know where to look, you’re likely to walk right past it. Water-bank herb is a small and inconspicuous plant that, on a dry riverbank, can easily be mistaken for sprouting grass. For nature conservationists, however, the presence of water-bank herb reveals a great deal about the quality of the habitat.

Nature knows no borders

The pool lies just outside the boundary of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide and borders a Natura 2000 site. Nevertheless, this species, typical of nutrient-poor waters, managed to find the new pool straight away. This underlines an important ecological principle: nature does not adhere to administrative boundaries, but responds to the quality of the landscape. When conditions are right, species find their way there naturally.

Water-rush as a focus species of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide

Water-rush is a key species of conservation concern within Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. The species is considered an indicator of nutrient-poor fens and pools with banks that temporarily dry out. Where water-rush grows, conditions are often favourable for an entire community of plants and animals that depend on this rare habitat.

A sign of recovery in the landscape

The spontaneous establishment of water-rush in the newly created pond is more than just a lovely sighting. It demonstrates that targeted management measures can quickly contribute to nature development and restoration. At the same time, this discovery proves that nature is not confined to protected areas alone. Suitable habitats can also emerge outside these areas, giving species new opportunities.

Photo of water-rush: Jeroen Willemsen