Schoonloo, Orvelte and Elp

Boswachterij Schoonloo is one of the beautiful wooded areas in Drenthe. Recreation and nature go hand in hand here and the forests are also used for timber harvesting. Sometimes the trees suddenly part and you unexpectedly encounter an open field or a mysterious lake. The deeper you penetrate into the heart of the sea of trees, the quieter it becomes. Inhabitants of the forests include badgers, which search for food in wet stream valleys, but build their castles in dry places. Badgers are common in Drenthe, but also keep your eyes open for more special animals. A pair of rough-legged owls are hiding in the woods of Schoonloo. What makes this pair extra special is that they also breed there. They like to nest in hollow trees.

Equally beautiful, but of a completely different caliber, is the Orvelterzand, which was once part of the vast Orvelterveld. A large part of the Orvelterveld was reclaimed, so that the Orvelterzand took its current shape around 1950. This is a beautiful tree heath area, in which a fen and peaty depressions determine the image. The deeper you go into the south of the Orvelterzand, the drier the soil becomes. Locally you will also find "living" drifting sand. In places where the sand has been still for a while, tiny plants get the chance to take root. If this is successful, lichens and tougher grass species can also emerge. Scottish Highlanders ensure that the area does not become overgrown, they eat the leaves of the plants and shrubs. There is a sheepfold in the area, which looks old. But appearances are deceiving: this cage was rebuilt in 2008 after the old cage burned down and many sheep in the flock perished. We have managed to restore the sheepfold to its original state and the flock is healthy again. The cage is used as one of the only two breeding centers for Schoonebeker heath sheep, which are one of the rare domestic breeds. Pay the woolly animals a visit.