You need plenty of space when you run the country’s largest inland port. At Port of Aalborg, they have chosen to utilise the large areas to promote nature, biodiversity and wildlife. Now more woolly residents have moved into the East Port.
Port of Aalborg has almost five million square metres at its disposal, which is used daily by the many players in the business area.
However, it’s not only companies that enjoy the area. For several years, Port of Aalborg has prioritised helping both biodiversity and wildlife through several initiatives.
– As a commercial port, it’s a big part of our work to support the green transition with our partners. But we also want to think more holistically about sustainability. For example, by integrating biodiversity and wildlife into the large areas we have available due to our activities, says Chief Technical & Sustainability Officer, Mette Schmidt.
New resident works for free and loves hogweed
Although it is often companies that establish themselves at the port, Port of Aalborg will soon welcome a new – and somewhat atypical – resident.
For the next few months, a group of sheep will be able to call the East Port their home as they fight hogweed on Port of Aalborg’s land over the summer.
– Our unused areas must be kept ready for new projects in the future, and instead of using brush cutters and machines, we have deployed sheep that graze in several places during the summer months to fight hogweed, among other things. In this way, we save a lot of resources, while the sheep also get a good summer holiday. They love hogweed, says Mette Schmidt.
Port of Aalborg’s four-legged residents are just one of several nature-promoting initiatives the port has launched in recent years.
– A few years ago, when we were in the process of an extensive quay extension, we saw an opportunity to establish a stone reef close to the quayside, which today supports flora and fauna below the surface. Last year we also established several nesting boxes for kestrels and peregrine falcons in our lighting columns, which help to promote the population and act as a natural control of gulls. And at the area Ankeret business development, thousands of residents are thriving in our insect hotels, explains Mette Schmidt.
In addition to wildlife, people can also use the port areas. Last year, Port of Aalborg established a recreational path on the East Port so that everyone can freely enjoy nature and wildlife in the area.
