Information: Natuurmonumenten / Maarten Vos, Management team employee-De Graafschap / Salland management unit.
Editors: Willem van Riemsdijk. Photos: Natuurmonumenten and Trudy van Riemsdijk – Zandee.

History

West of Vorden lies the Hackfort castle in the beautiful Achterhoek landscape with lanes, forests, fields, meadows and farms. The house is located on the Baaksebeek (locally called Hackfortse creek) with associated water mill.

The landscape park, current situation
The castle is an imposing eye-catcher in a beautiful landscape park dating back to the beginning of the nineteenth century. The park integrates smoothly with the surrounding, rural environment. The meandering brook is the connecting element. The meandering paths have been carefully designed for a walk full of variety.

Hackfort: inventory of Stinzenplants in 2009
In 2009 an inventory of Stinzenplants was made on March 30 and May 4. The highlight of the flowering of these plants at Hackfort was then in March / April in the forecourt of the castle where Dutch Crocuses (Crocus vernus) and Bird in a bush fully cover the ground. Along the hiking trails and driveway, large spots of Wood Anemones occur. In the brook meadow grows the Wild Daffodil. To a lesser extent Snowdrops were distributed in the forecourt and along the driveway. Under the Lime trees in the forecourt a sumptuous group of Spring Snowflakes was found. In the past there used to be more Stinzenflora in several places in the park (according to K.Baars).

Description assignment and design: Stinzenflora planting Hackfort

In spring 2009, the Vereniging van Natuurmonumenten Nederland asked Trudi Woerdeman to make a design for an additional Stinzenflora planting on Hackfort. The existing species had to be preserved and strengthened by soil improvement and by planting the same genetic material in existing and new places. Another task was to supplement the existing species of Stinzenplants with new varieties, which fit in historically, while another aim was to extend the flowering season. Later flowering varieties were almost absent. Newly planted species are Bluebell, Spanish hyacinth, Siberian Squill, Glory-of the-snow, Drooping Star-of-Betlehem, and a spot with Great bellflowers.

Other plants which are planted: Pheasant’s Eye, Italian Lords-and-Ladies, Lady Fern, Male Fern, Common Podypody, Garden Solomon’s seal, Great bellflower, Snake’s Head Fritillary, Summer Snowflake, Oxlip, Marsh Marigold and Royal Fern.

Repair work. 2010 – 2015
In the period 2010-2015 the recovery plan of Trudi Woerdeman was implemented in phases. Many thousands of bulbs have been planted with the help of many volunteers.

Soil improvement and management
In order to allow Stinzenflora to flourish on the sandy soil that is present on this location, soil improvement is absolutely essential. This is done by applying leaf compost, vinassekali, and lime. Brambles and Nettles were first removed and when these weeds reappear they are removed. A strict mowing management is applied, whereby the cuttings are removed. Due to these measures, the new planting is now well established.

Use of own genetic material

Snowdrops: many Snowdrops grew in a limited area. Starting at this spot Snowdrops have been planted along the path next to the brook in sub-area 2.

Snowflakes (Leucojum vernum): clumps were excavated from a large spot in the forecourt and planted elsewhere on grassy banks along the brook in sub-areas 3 (meadow near mill), 4 (driveway, new path along stream) and 1 (large meadow near the brook). They are doing well now.

Wood Anemones that were already present were photographed in spring. In the fall, rhizomes were dug up (thinned) and planted elsewhere. They quickly expand in the new places. The thinned areas grow back rapidly.

The other species have been purchased.

The planting plan of Trudi Woerdeman for Hackfort:

• Volgende: The Snowdrops of the Weem in Warffum felt a draught
• Vorige: The influence of management choices on the development of the former vegetable garden circle