Parents of children born or adopted in 2025 will have the opportunity to plant a sapling in the Birth Forest in Horendonk this November. The municipality of Essen has been organizing this initiative since 1994, contributing to its fourth forest.
A total of 187 saplings will be planted. Of the children born in 2025, there were 92 boys and 95 girls. The most popular boy's name was Lenn (3 times), and for girls, it was Emma (3 times). The Stationsstraat proved to be the most fertile street with 12 births.
The births were distributed across neighborhoods: 91 in the Centrum, 35 in Wildert, 27 in Heikant, 27 in Horendonk, and 7 in Hoek. There was also one set of twins.
The planting event will take place on November 21st. Parents will receive an invitation to plant a tree together with their youngest child and grandparents. They will also receive a keepsake. Parents of 'star children' will be invited to a separate remembrance moment.
