The Flemish Ardennes is looking to establish itself as a destination for blossom and fruit tourism through a new heritage project that will revive forgotten local fruit varieties and reconnect visitors with the region’s orchard landscape.
The Fruitig erfgoed in de Vlaamse Ardennen (Fruit Heritage in the Flemish Ardennes) project was officially launched in Oudenaarde in July. It brings together the Province of East Flanders, Toerisme Vlaanderen (Tourism Flanders, Visit Flanders), Landschapspark Vlaamse Ardennen, Regionaal Landschap Vlaamse Ardennen tot Dender and fruit sector organisation Pomko to preserve historic fruit varieties while creating new attractions for visitors.
At the heart of the project is the search for old local apple, pear and cherry varieties that once characterised the Flemish Ardennes. Once common in traditional orchards, kitchen gardens and farmsteads, many of these historic varieties are now rapidly disappearing from the landscape.
Experts will identify the forgotten fruit varieties before they are propagated through grafting to ensure they survive for future generations. Some of the grafted trees will be trained as espalier fruit trees against the historic abbey wall at the provincial heritage site in Ename, creating a living gene bank. Others will be planted throughout the Flemish Ardennes in locations where they once thrived.
The espalier fruit wall at Ename is intended to become more than a conservation project. It will serve as a gateway for visitors to discover the region’s villages, orchards and landscapes through themed walking and cycling routes.
Each fruit variety will be accompanied by information panels explaining its origin, importance to the Flemish Ardennes and traces it has left in the landscape. QR codes will provide visitors with stories about the region’s fruit-growing heritage, as well as links to walking and cycling routes through orchards and other characteristic landscape features.
Residents are also being invited to help identify rare local fruit trees, orchards and espalier fruit trees that may still survive in the region. Owners or anyone aware of old fruit trees are encouraged to contact the project partners so the varieties can be documented and preserved.
East Flanders Deputy for Heritage David Coppens (N-VA) said the region’s fruit-growing history deserved greater recognition. “The Flemish Ardennes is less well known for fruit cultivation than regions such as Haspengouw. Thanks to the Fruit Heritage in the Flemish Ardennes project, this unique part of our history will gain renewed recognition and help stimulate blossom and fruit tourism in the Flemish Ardennes. The espalier fruit wall at the provincial Heritage Site Ename will become the starting point for promoting the Landscape Park Flemish Ardennes to visitors.”
Leen Gysen, administrator-general of Toerisme Vlaanderen, said the project combines heritage conservation with biodiversity and tourism. “With this project, we are giving a piece of the living heritage of the Landscape Park Flemish Ardennes a new future. Old fruit varieties tell the story of our region, strengthen biodiversity and make the landscape even more attractive for residents and visitors. By intelligently connecting heritage, nature and tourism, we are creating new opportunities for the Flemish Ardennes. In this way, we are ensuring that this unique fruit-growing tradition is preserved for future generations.”
