The Sieradenbuurt is home to a 5.5-hectare Food Forest, established in 2015-2016 through a community initiative with the municipality of Almere. Designed using permaculture principles, this green space serves for urban agriculture, recreation, and education.
Visitors can engage in self-picking activities, with available produce including cherries from large trees, as well as apples from an orchard, nuts from various nut trees, berries from extensive berry bushes, and fresh herbs from dedicated mounds. The forest also cultivates grapevines. Furthermore, a local beekeeper offers honey sourced directly from the beehives within the Food Forest.
The area is actively maintained by neighborhood volunteers who perform tasks such as willow pruning and caring for the herb gardens. Guided tours are periodically organized, allowing visitors to explore the forest’s origins and its rich variety of food-bearing plants and trees.
What visitors say
This community-driven initiative is highly regarded as an inviting and inspiring space, described variously as a beautiful local park, a nascent 5.5-hectare permaculture food forest, and a vibrant herb garden. Maintained by local residents, it offers visitors the unique opportunity to pick a variety of fresh herbs, fruits, and produce for personal use, all free of charge. Many appreciate its unexpected size, diverse offerings, and pleasant atmosphere, making it ideal for leisurely walks, children’s play, and dog outings. Facilities like a barbecue/fireplace add to its community appeal, and free, easy parking is a welcome bonus.
While generally positive, some visitors offer constructive criticism. There’s a sentiment that the area currently functions more as a park with edible plants than a fully realized, multi-layered food forest. A notable concern is the issue of dog owners not cleaning up after their pets, with droppings often concealed in the tall grass, which unfortunately deters some from returning. Additionally, a few express disappointment over instances of over-harvesting by some individuals, who take excessive amounts of produce, leaving little for others. Recent construction activities have also been mentioned as a slight drawback.