Plukbos Paardenspeelwei in Velp is a small public picking garden where children and adults can gather fruit, nuts and berries directly from the plants. The garden was created in 2021 on a corner of the Paardenspeelwei, a nature playground opened in 2012 for local families.
The garden grows over 40 edible species, including strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, cherries, apples, pears, plums, hazelnuts, walnuts and quinces. There are also less common fruits such as pawpaws, persimmons (kaki), honeyberries and jostaberries. The plants are arranged in a way that encourages biodiversity and improves the soil, with nitrogen-fixing shrubs like the autumn olive (olijfwilg) mixed in.
Visitors are welcome to pick and eat fruit while in the garden, following three simple rules: treat the plants with care, take only what you will eat immediately, and leave some for others. There is no charge for entry or picking, and no need to book. The garden is open 24 hours a day, every day of the week, all year round.
The garden is maintained by local volunteers as part of the “Ik buurt mee” neighbourhood initiative. Regular workdays are held throughout the year, often followed by a social gathering. The website provides details of each plant, including its location in the garden and when it is ready to pick. Most fruit ripens between June and October, with some nuts and late berries available into winter.