'Bonte Berm and Hotello Insecta Clearly Represent What We Stand For'

ARTICLE

Karlijn Raats, Monday 3 July 2023

246 sec

Green makeover for the area around Oss town hall

The municipality of Oss has transformed the planting beds around its town hall using a Bonte Berm mix from JUB Holland, complemented by a Hotello Insecta: a corten steel insect hotel including an information board, created by artist Juul Rameau. This trade magazine paid a visit.

It had been dry for 35 consecutive days when your editor arrived in Oss on June 19—a record spell, reflected in the yellowed verges along the roads. Oss was no exception. Yet amid the straw-colored grass, the vibrant Bonte Berm planted by the municipality around the town hall in December 2022 truly stood out.

From Closely Mown to Ecological

Julie Wulfhorst, public space designer at the municipality of Oss, is involved in various projects to green the city center. She describes the previous state of the town hall's surroundings: "The planting beds mainly consisted of closely mown grass. A small patch of that remains. It looked tidy, of course. But with the arrival of our new alderman—who strongly advocates for greenery and biodiversity—we wanted to demonstrate our values as a municipality in a high-profile location by sowing a Bonte Berm and installing an insect hotel."

Julie Wulfhorst

Sandy Soil

Sowing a Bonte Berm is no issue in Oss; the sandy soil is actually ideal for it. This suitable soil is one reason why several flowering verges—and even bulb and stinzenplant ribbons—have already been created in Oss in recent years. "These ribbons are particularly important for biodiversity," says Wulfhorst. "They include many nectar-producing flowers as well as host plants for insects and other small creatures. Take nettle leaves, for instance—insects lay eggs on them, and other creatures find shelter underneath. We're thinking carefully about how to further express our ecological vision. For example, we've depleted nutrient-rich verges and added special sand in areas along the Heesterseweg for sand bees."

Coarse species like nettles are not desired in high-visibility locations, making the Bonte Berm an ideal concept, according to Wulfhorst. Robbert Uittenbogaard from JUB Holland adds that for more rural areas, a herb mix can be used, with bulbs only added at focal points. "There are also special herb-bulb blends for swales, featuring species such as Muscari, Fritillaria meleagris, Camassia, Leucojum aestivum, or Allium ursinum."

Preliminary Research

Before establishing a Bonte Berm, JUB Holland and Job Claushuis of De Schoonste Lusthof conduct an environmental scan. "To ensure climate resilience and boost biodiversity, we start by analyzing the environment and soil," explains Uittenbogaard. Soil compaction is measured with a penetrometer, and soil composition is assessed via core sampling.
"We examine which species thrive on-site and which are common. We assess sun exposure—full sun, partial shade, or shade—and determine which plants are suitable for bees and butterflies. Based on this, we recommend a suitable Bonte Berm mix."
The analysis for Oss led to the recommendation of high species diversity to withstand variations in moisture, light, and heat. Drought-tolerant bulb species were also advised, including botanical tulips, crested hyacinths, poet's daffodils, woodland crocuses, saffron crocuses, and autumn crocuses. These recommendations were tailored further to match the wishes of the Oss municipality.

The advice included selecting a wide range of species with high drought tolerance.

A Dynamic System

Wulfhorst elaborates on those preferences: "We wanted the area around the town hall to reflect our ecological ethos through a low-maintenance yet colorful ornamental garden. Including native species was important, but other species were welcome too. Our climate is changing, and that calls for an expanded list of suitable species. It also had to be visually attractive—within a dynamic, ever-changing green system."
She points to the yellowing patch of retained lawn. "It looks dry now, but it greens up after a rain shower. That's when people realize grass is dynamic and alive. We wanted to convey the same idea with the Bonte Berm system."
The result is a mix of perennial and annual flowering plants, like poppies. "We might have to resow some areas, but we'll monitor the Bonte Berm's performance for a year," says Wulfhorst.

Hotello Insecta

Juul Rameau

Hotello Insecta

The north side of the town hall is mostly shaded; the sunnier west side now features a flourishing Bonte Berm, along with the participatory artwork "De Kneep" and the corten steel insect hotel "Hotello Insecta." It includes an information panel about biodiversity. The insect hotel is open on one side, facing the flowers that provide nectar and pollen. Town hall meeting rooms overlook the Bonte Berm, offering staff a vibrant view.
Artist Juul Rameau created the Hotello Insecta. She designs graceful yet robust, organically shaped public artworks—usually in corten steel—for parks and gardens. These can be large-scale installations or smaller, gallery-exhibited pieces, also shown abroad. A nature lover, she draws inspiration from natural forms and aims to connect people with nature and tell stories through her art.

Origins

"Hotello Insecta was originally created at the request of the city of Alkmaar," says Rameau. "In 2021, I designed one for a roundabout in Alkmaar." She wanted to make her work on biodiversity more visible. It became a true eye-catcher—a landmark. In 2022, she created Hotello Insecta pieces for the Floriade. There, Wulfhorst and her colleagues were inspired by the piece, surrounded by a Bonte Berm from JUB Holland.
Each sculpture is 180-230 cm tall and 150 cm wide and includes an information panel with details on the bulbs, herbs, and insects it attracts. The hexagonal corten steel artwork weighs about 75 kg above ground. It is secured with a 60 kg concrete base, set with quick-set cement.

"Hotello Insecta supports a flower- and herb-rich environment in telling the biodiversity story."

The shape of Hotello Insecta is based on a honeycomb. Rameau points to the various cells: "It's modular, so the elements can be rearranged. Custom sizes are also possible, and clients can request symbolic or personal objects to be incorporated."
The bottom section, about 70 cm high, is left empty to prevent splash water from causing rot in the bamboo tubes, pine cones, and wood chips that make up the insect hotel's interior. After 5 to 15 years—depending on weather conditions—the filling can be replaced.
Rameau emphasizes that a Hotello Insecta is not a perfect insect habitat in itself. "It's a storytelling tool that enhances the biodiversity message of a flower-rich environment."

L-R: Julie Wulfhorst, Juul Rameau, Robbert Uittenbogaard

Bonte Berm Planting in Oss

In December, the Bonte Berm around the town hall was sown by Jonkers hoveniers from Venlo, a company specializing in sowing flower- and herb-rich mixes. A half-meter strip along the edges was left unsown to keep adjacent paths clear. Uittenbogaard explains: "Sowing in December is relatively late—September through November is ideal. Fortunately, spring 2023 was cold and wet, so the seeds germinated well and are now well rooted."

Maintenance

Extensive management means mowing twice a year. The second mowing and removal happen late in the year (October or November, depending on the situation). "We recommend using a finger-bar mower so the seed can fall evenly and germinate. Late mowing is important—after grass stops growing and when temperatures drop below 10°C."

Maximum Enjoyment

Wulfhorst circles back to the late sowing and successful establishment of the Bonte Berm: "The benefit was that we could enjoy it longer. We still had Narcissus in bloom in May, which was wonderful. The beauty and compliments from passersby leave us wanting more. We may sow Bonte Berms in other key locations too."

This article was originally published on July 3, 2023, on the Stad + Groen website.

JUB Holland

Jonkers hoveniers bv

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