Grafting a Beacon Tree
On 23 January, a special beacon tree project took place at Geosite Kalkense Meersen and Berlare, at the Donkmeer lake. Grafting is a technique used to propagate valuable trees. Cuttings from the tree are stored in a cold room at 4°C to mimic their natural winter environment. When spring arrives, the branches are taken to the arboretum in Eeklo, where they are planted in the open air. There, they begin to sprout leaves and develop roots, growing into full, living trees.
This method allows for the propagation of important trees without having to grow them from seed. It also helps preserve rare species that might otherwise be lost or hard to find. Through grafting, the project aims to grow around fifty descendants of this beacon tree. These young trees will be replanted in Berlare. A fitting legacy for the old beacon tree that is slowly reaching the end of its life.
The name 'Beacon Tree'
Beacon trees (Bakenbomen) were once used to mark waterways and signal the boundary between land and water. Long before the invention of radar, sailors relied on these trees for navigation. They were planted at strategic points along rivers, canals, and other bodies of water to serve as visual markers for passing vessels. Especially in shallow waters, where they were visible from afar and used as natural reference points.