In the Aubroek in Berlare, spring is getting an extra touch of magic this year. Not with flowers or sunshine, but with water. Thanks to a new “plas-dras” pump, a local farmer can now offer meadow birds nesting on his land exactly what they need: wet feet.

And one particularly notable fan is very happy about it: the black-tailed godwit, the proud flagship species of the Scheldevallei National Park.

Temporary water, a major impact

A “plas-dras” pump actually does something very simple: it pumps water from a nearby ditch onto the grassland. The lowest parts then turn into shallow pools in spring. This keeps the grassland moist for longer and the soil soft.

In times of increasingly dry springs, this is no unnecessary luxury. Climate change is making water scarce. By retaining it smartly where it is needed, nature becomes more resilient. Drying out is slowed down, biodiversity gets breathing space, and farmers benefit as well because drought is reduced.

A five star restaurant for the gowdit

For meadow birds, wet soil is not a detail but a basic necessity. The black-tailed godwit, with its elegant long bill, is built to probe deep into soft ground in search of earthworms and other delicacies. If the soil becomes too hard, the menu stays empty.

And it’s not just about the adult birds. The soggy soil teems with insects—the protein-rich fuel for growing chicks. Plas-dras areas are therefore both a buffet and a safe haven.

In this way, a simple pump becomes the beating heart of a successful breeding season.

Where nature and agriculture meet

What makes this intervention extra special is the collaboration behind it. In the Aubroek, Regional Landscape Schelde-Durme and Boerennatuur Vlaanderen are working together with various partners from the agricultural, nature, hunting, and government sectors toward shared goals. By jointly seeking solutions that make sense both ecologically and economically, a landscape emerges that works for birds, biodiversity, and farmers alike.

The project not only addresses today’s challenges but also builds toward a climate-resilient future in the Scheldevallei.

Will you give the godwit a five-star meadow too?

Would you like to help make a difference? When purchasing your concert ticket, you can easily add a donation. In doing so, you contribute to the purchase of the plas-dras pump and to a future for the godwit and many other species in the Scheldevallei.

Together, we can bring a vibrant spring back to the Aubroek!