South Limburg and its nature

Nothing is more relaxing for children than nature. This route leads you through the Brunssummerheide. The Brunssummerheide is an approximately 600 hectare heathland, a nature reserve of the Association for Natural Monuments; this mainly concerns the so-called Schrieversheide. On the other hand, this is also the name of the approximately 1800 ha large recreation area in which this nature reserve is located. Recreational use includes: walking, cycling, golfing and horseback riding. Past node 76 we pass a sheepfold. A sheepfold is a so-called deep stable and serves as shelter for sheep that grazed the heath. Nowadays, the sheep often lie on straw, but earlier heaths were used for this. The sheep then defecate on the straw/heather sods and because they walk in the cage, the straw or sods mix with the manure. This stable manure is very fertile and was formerly used for the fields in the area. Due to the use of this manure, the fields became higher and higher. The fields are called essen or engen. The sheep of a sheepfold generally graze the heathland around the sheepfold under the supervision of a shepherd. This form of natural landscape management ensures that the heaths are preserved and do not grow full of grass, shrubs and trees and eventually become forest. The authentic appearance of a sheepfold makes most sheepfolds a tourist attraction in the region. It is often stated where the sheep are at the moment and when they will return to the pen under the guidance of the shepherd. You will find a beautifully renovated visitor center on the edge of the Brunssummerheide nature reserve. Six days a week you can go to the desk of Natuurmonumenten for all your questions.