Municipality of Beerse

About the Municipality of Beerse

Beerse has been struggling with the nuisance of processionary caterpillars for some time. To protect residents and keep public spaces safe, the municipality sought a sustainable solution. And because raising awareness and burning nests is not always enough, a new, ecological approach was tested: nesting boxes for great tits and blue tits, the caterpillar's natural enemies.

The municipality has been working with A-kwadraat for a long time on green maintenance and painting work. So, calling on the carpentry workshop for this project was a logical and ideal next step.

‍

How we strengthen the Municipality of Beerse together

Our team at A-kwadraat supports the municipality in designing, making, and installing nesting boxes, so that great tits and blue tits have a safe place to breed. We also ensure a well-organized approach: the locations and numbers per site are closely monitored.

Dirk Peeters, foreman of the Beerse municipal parks department, explains:

“Almost 200 nesting boxes have already been hung, and another 200 will be installed this year. I have already seen titmice in various places.”

‍

How we work together

The collaboration between the Municipality of Beerse and A-kwadraat builds on a long-standing relationship of trust. The parks department was already familiar with our teams from previous assignments, such as traditional green maintenance (pruning, mowing, weed removal) and additional tasks such as emptying public trash cans or inspecting playground equipment. So when Beerse decided to use nesting boxes to combat the processionary caterpillar, it was a quick decision to call on our carpentry workshop.

In the meantime, all the nesting boxes have been made and installed, and an annual maintenance check was the logical next step. During the preparations, it became clear that this would be the next step in the collaboration.

Today, our team is also conducting the annual inspection of the nesting boxes: we clean them (including removing old nests) and repair or replace them if necessary. We have noticed that most nesting boxes are inhabited every year by a hopefully happy family of titmice.

‍

The added value of A-kwadraat

At A-kwadraat, everything revolves around reliability, local involvement, and sustainable solutions.

• Reliability and independence
  “Communication with A-kwadraat employees is very open and flexible. If there is a problem, we deal with it immediately. The work that A-kwadraat delivers is fine. In fact, I don't even need to check it. Blind trust is the key word.”
• Local and personal connection
  Many employees come from the municipality of Beerse itself, which gives the project extra meaning: "One of the people who made the nesting boxes is the son of a colleague of mine. I really like that local aspect."‍
• Sustainability and innovation
  At A-kwadraat, we don't just look at the result, but also at the long term: the use of sustainable materials and electric machines for green maintenance reduces ecological impact and promotes working comfort.

‍

How we make an impact together

Thanks to A-kwadraat, the municipality of Beerse can control the processionary caterpillar population in a sustainable manner, while ensuring that green spaces remain livable for residents. 

“Nest boxes are one factor in a larger approach. Gradually, the tit population should grow, and hopefully we will see a clear difference in three to five years,” Dirk explains.