Walking between ponds and heathland

During this walk you will encounter different landscapes: heathland, tall coniferous forests, riverbank landscape and bird-rich fens.

Wonderful water landscape

You start directly in nature where new heathlands are being cultivated. A little further on, the Kleine Nete river flows. That is a special experience, because within a drop of a few meters the vegetation changes completely. Suddenly everything is green and the reeds are more than a man's height. Up to two or three meters from its bank, the soil absorbs the water of the river and there is lush vegetation. On the other side of the river the land is flat.

Forgotten country house

During the remainder of the walk on the high sand ridge you will see Scots and Corsican pines of up to 35 meters high with a very diverse undergrowth. If you look closely you will see a row of oak trees between the tall pine trees that are at least as old as the pines. A natural reminder of the old driveway of the Schoutehoeve, a house that has been forgotten.

Bird lookouts

The Zwart Water and Snepkensvijver fens are also beautiful sights during the walk. The Zwart Water arose naturally, but the current structure is the result of peat extraction and planting between 1700 and 1940. The Snepkensvijver was also a peat extraction area. This produced ferruginous soil and was used as a linen bleaching plant. Nowadays the fens are an excellent resting and foraging place for birds. At both fens there is the opportunity to watch birds from a shelter.

Photo copyright: Mie De Backer