A Forest of Meaning – A Story of Legacy, Resilience and Renewal

Keeping our Promises!

Dear readers,

Five years ago, I shared a story that touched many hearts. Today, I want to revisit that story and share a hopeful update—one that connects nature, family, business and community in a very special way.

It begins with the mother of my wife, Magda Sempels—a woman of remarkable courage and determination. In 1980, against all advice and resistance, she made a bold decision: she planted a forest in her own backyard. While her husband and neighbours tried to talk her out of it, she persisted. Tree by tree—2,000 in total—she brought her dream to life. She dug every hole herself, driven by a vision no one else could fully see yet. Her dream was not comfort; it was contribution. Not ease, but impact.

And impact it had.

In the years that followed, her forest grew into a place of beauty and serenity. It shielded the land from harsh winds and painted the surroundings in deep, evergreen hues. Birds made it their home, squirrels played among the branches, wood pigeons nested, foxes passed through, and at night the call of the owl reminded us of nature’s quiet majesty. Sometimes even a family of pheasants would grace us with their presence.

But then, something changed.

Last year, we began noticing that some trees were losing their needles. Slowly, the forest turned from green to brownish-grey. It was painful to witness. A government forestry expert identified the cause: a beetle infestation, combined with groundwater deficiency, had weakened the trees. The diagnosis was clear and the recommendation blunt—cut everything down while the wood still held market value.

That moment was heartbreaking. But it also stirred something powerful in my wife—something she had inherited from her mother.

Standing on the now-silent land, she said, with quiet resolve: “Here, a new forest will rise. In honour of my mother. And for the future of our environment.”

Together with the forestry expert, we developed a new planting plan—this time with climate-resilient species, a combination of trees and bushes ready to withstand tomorrow’s world.

Of course, planting a new forest is costly. That’s when I saw a unique opportunity: my company, TC3, would take on the responsibility of sponsoring the new forest.

Why? For my wife. For her mother’s legacy. For the local community. For my children and grandchildren. For our beautiful planet. And—very importantly—for you, my clients.

Because without you, none of this would be possible.

Thanks to many years of collaboration and trust, I was able to build up the reserves that now finance this project. So, dear client, know this: you too are part of this story. You have helped to bring new life into the world. Together, we are making the village of Pellenberg greener—and sending fresh oxygen into the air for everyone to breathe.

I hope this story inspires others—businesses large and small—to reflect on the role they can play in restoring and preserving our natural world. We’ll need every effort in the years to come.

And now, five years after replanting…

The forest is alive again. We’ve witnessed explosive growth, and new residents have moved in: a deer and her fawn, who come nibble from the beech hedge. A small marten, a curious porcupine, and a joyful chorus of birds have made this their new home.

Each new inhabitant brings us joy. The more souls, the more life. The more green, the more hope.

If you’d like, I’ll keep sharing updates as this forest continues to grow—like a Phoenix rising from the ashes.

With gratitude,
Alexander Nijs & Magda Sempels