Wildlife Estates Label Award Ceremony in Belgium: Celebrating the Next Generation of Land managers
On 24 March 2026, the European Landowners’ Organization hosted the 8th Dinner and Wildlife Estates Label Award Ceremony in Belgium, bringing together land managers from across Flanders and Wallonia for an evening dedicated to sustainable land stewardship and biodiversity.
This year’s edition took place at Foster Farm, a venue that perfectly reflects the values promoted by the Wildlife Estates initiative. The evening opened with a presentation by Robert de l’ESCAILLE, who introduced the farm and its inspiring projects. Foster Farm stands as an example of an ethical and sustainable ecosystem, combining agriculture, catering and craftsmanship in an integrated and forward-looking approach. His intervention set the tone for the evening, highlighting how innovation and tradition can come together to support both biodiversity and local economies.
The official proceedings continued with a speech by Thierry de l’ESCAILLE, who underlined the importance of the Wildlife Estates Label as a tool to recognise and promote responsible land management across Europe. He emphasised the growing need to support landowners and managers who actively contribute to the preservation of biodiversity while maintaining viable rural activities.
In his speech, the acting Director of DG Environment from the European Commission, Ion CODESCU highlighted the importance of the Wildlife Estates Label as a concrete tool to reconcile biodiversity conservation with land use, by actively involving private land managers alongside European policies. He stressed that the future of conservation depends on local, voluntary and collaborative actions capable of transforming landscapes while creating ecological, economic and social value.
A key moment of the evening was the official awarding of the Wildlife Estates Labels. This year, the recognition was bestowed upon a prestigious group of estates, reflecting a deep commitment to high environmental standards across both regions. In Wallonia the label was awarded to Le Petit Monde de Longpré (Lhoest family), Domaine de Tintange (Jean-Marie Greindl), Les jardins d’Annevoie (Tom Ernest Loumaye), ASBL Ferme du Chant d’Oiseaux (Flamand family) and Forêt de Froidmont (Martin & Sibylle de Cartier de Marchienne). In Flanders, it went to Landgoed Schiplakenbos (de Lantsheere en Terlinden family), Landgoed jagerschoef (Vangerven family) and Landgoed Grote Neerheide (van der Vennet family).
Beyond the formal ceremony, the event also provided an opportunity to bring together a new generation of land managers. Throughout the evening, participants engaged in discussions, exchanged experiences and built connections across regions and backgrounds. This informal dimension remains central to the spirit of the initiative, fostering dialogue and encouraging collaboration.
By creating space for networking, knowledge-sharing and intergenerational exchange, the event illustrated Wildlife Estates’ ongoing commitment to strengthening the community of lan d managers and supporting the transition towards more sustainable practices. The success of the evening once again demonstrated the relevance of the Wildlife Estates Label in promoting responsible land management and inspiring future generations to take an active role in addressing environmental challenges.