Stropers b o s

Projectarea Municipality border Welcome in the Stropersbos! History of the area What did the area look like before the project? Why this project? Sint-Gillis-Waas What happened during the project? 7KHÀUVWUHVXOWVZRRGODUNDQGKHDWKHUUHWXUQ Recreational activities in the Stropersbos 6WRULHVIURPWKHQDQGQRZ The area after LIFE

Heath Dog-violet Water Violet Heather seedling Sphagnum Heather

Welcome in the Stropersbos! Welcome in the Stropersbos!

The Stropersbos (Stropers forest) covers an area of 350 ha and the area falls under the municipalities of Stekene and Sint- *LOOLV:DDV,WLVDQRI¿FLDO)OHPLVKQDWXUHUHVHUYHDQGGRPDLQIRUHVWDSURWHFWHGODQGVFDSHDQGWKHDUHDLVSDUWRIWKH KDELWDWFKDUWHUDUHDµ)RUHVWVDQGPRRUVRIVDQG\)OHPLVK(DVWHUO\DUHD¶7KHYDOXDEOHQDWXUHZDVUHVWRUHGZLWKWKHVXSSRUW RIWKH(XURSHDQ/,)(SURJUDPPH

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Curve in the Line with grassy zone What is nature development?

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LIFE and nature development hand in hand

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LIFE & NATURE DEVELOPMENT What is LIFE?

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(1) The area covered the entire area of the municipalities Kemzeke, Sint-Gillis, Sint-Pauwels, Nieuwkerken, Sint-Niklaas, parts of the municipalities , Belsele, Stekene, De Klinge, Kieldrecht, Vrasene, Haasdonk an further to the north, across the present Belgian-Dutch border to Hulst, where the forest Hulsterlo, referred to by Reinaert, was an off- shoot. What did the area look like before the project?

Rabbet Plat alongside the Braemstraat before the works (2007)

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Coppice and middle wood forest

Coppice consists of deciduous tree species that are re- gularly cut down to near ground level for the wood. The dormant nodes on the remaining stem then bud and the cycle starts again. Traditionally, coppicing is performed on dry, sandy soil. Middle wood forest consists of two layers: an incomplete upper layer with high-stemmed trees and a lower layer of coppice. The coppice and middle wood forests consist mainly of oak, birch and black alder. Why this project?

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What happened during the project?

7

1. Plat before the works. 2. The Harvester chops ans processes the trees in one movement. 3. After the Harvester the crown wood and stems lie on rows. 4. A small crane clears the plats. 5. The stumps are removed. 6. The nutrient-rich layer of forestlitter was scraped away. 7. A new starting situation.

8. Soon a common view?

8 What happened during the project?

These measures were not drawn up on the spur of the moment. A lot of research preceded the planned activities. An eco-hydrological study provided proof that the area is in the process of dehydration. The original situation was determined based on a groundwater model, soil sampling, old maps, thorough vegetation analyses, aerial photographs and land use. The chance of the original vegetation developing again was also estimated each time. Sub-areas were drawn up with VSHFL¿FWDUJHWVEDVHGRQDOOWKHVHGDWD'XULQJWKHSURMHFWDJRRGVWDUWLQJVLWXDWLRQZDVFUHDWHGRQFHPRUHDOORZLQJQDWXUH to take its course and allowing valuable vegetations to develop.

Permanently moist to wet forest due to restoration of the historical water level

Alder forests occur in moist areas. This type of forest The standing water will slowly become land, resul- KDVGHWHULRUDWHGVLJQL¿FDQWO\GXHWRGHK\GUDWLRQ7KH ting in the rabbets gradually becoming less high. This use of weirs and dams to bring the water level back to the opens great perspectives for water vegetations. The old level will ensure the spontaneous recovery of these numerous channels will harbour a great variety of valu- alder forests in many places. Weirs on the Line and the able water vegetations and will facilitate many points of Maatbeek, together with dams spread throughout the transition from wet to moist to dry in the Stropersbos. area will hold the water in place for longer, thereby ex- tending the ‘wet’ season. The dehydration of the area is a problem particularly in the dry summer period and this LVH[DFWO\ZKHQWKHZHLUVDQGGDPVZLOOGRWKHLUMRE7KH raising of the water level will start the process of spon- taneous forest formation. Small forests with black alder will start to appear in the deciduous forest to the north of the Line, brightened up by marsh marigolds and water violets. Alders will also gradually replace the pine trees to the south east of the Line. Fish ladders on the main Goals waterways will divide the total difference in elevation Wasteland with heath and heath related habitats LQWRVPDOOHUVHFWLRQVRWKDW¿VKWKDWVZLPDJDLQVWWKH current - will be able to bridge the difference in eleva- Permanent moist to wet forest (Alder swamp forest) tion more easily. The elevation of the water level will be 'U\WRPRLVWPL[HGGHFLGXRXVIRUHVW DFWLYHFRQYHUVLRQ FRQGXFWHGLQWZRSKDVHVRYHUDSHULRGRI¿YH\HDUV Wasteland development of mixed deciduous forest

The rabbet structure will be maintained and will be Creation of light-rich verges used to achieve the rehydration. Building dams with sandbags in the ditches will ensure that the water is Open grass retained for longer periods. The height of each of the 39 dams has been chose to ensure that the rain wa- Northern grazing unit ter still runs off gradually, whilst the seepage water (ground water that spontaneously seeps up through the Southern grazing unit soil) can once again reach the root zone of the plants.

7KLVZLOOHQVXUHWKDWVSHFL¿FVHHSDJHSODQWVZLOOUDSLGO\ Measures establish in the area once more. Clearing of forest and removal of stumps Removal of stumps Removal of alien trees Removal of spontaneous formation Removal of forest litter +HDWKHUSRRUZDVWLQH ZDVWHODQGODQG- 7UHHULFKZDVWLQHVSRQWDQHRXVIRUHVW VFDSH KHDWKHUDQGEDUUHQJUDVVODQGV development in the southern grazing restored to former glory block

,Q WKH QRUWKHUQ SDVWXUH EORFN WKHUH ZHUH SDWFKHV RI 7KHVRXWKHUQJUD]LQJEORFNFRQVLVWHGPDLQO\RISDVWX- heather that are evidence of the vast moorlands of UHVDQGIDUPODQG$VDUHVXOWWKHVRLOLVULFKLQQXWULHQWV GD\V JRQH E\ 9LDEOH VHHGV KDG EHHQ O\LQJ GRUPDQW DQGWKHFKDQFHVRIKHDWKHUVXFFHHGLQJKHUHDUHVOLP in the dry and nutrient-poor soil for decades. The thick 7KHUHIRUHWKHHPSKDVLVKHUHLVRQWKHGHYHORSPHQWRI OD\HURIIRUHVWOLWWHUIURPWKHSODQWHGSLQHZRRGIRUHVWV IRUHVWVZKHUHODUJHJUD]HUV *DOORZD\FDWWOHKRUVHV PDGHJHUPLQDWLRQLPSRVVLEOH)RUWKLVUHDVRQWKHSLQH « ZLOOHQVXUHQDWXUDOG\QDPLFV$QXPEHURISORWVZLWK IRUHVWVZHUHFOHDUHGLQWKHVHDUHDVWKHVWXPSVZHUH DOLHQWUHHVZHUHFOHDUHGDQGOHIWWRDOORZUHIRUHVWDWLRQ UHPRYHGDQGWKHOD\HURIOLWWHUZDVVFUDSHGDZD\VR to occur spontaneously. The animals are left to roam that only the sandy nutrient-poor soil remained. This IUHHLQWKLVDUHDUHVXOWLQJLQDYDULHGPDUNLQJSDWWHUQ created an ideal situation for the moors and heather- SRRUJUDVVODQGV+HUHDQGWKHUHJURXSVRIWUHHVZHUH VSDUHGLQWKLVRSHQODQGVFDSHWRFUHDWHDKHDWKHUSRRU ZDVWLQHZLWKIRUHVWQXFOHL(YHU\\HDUVKHHSZLOOJUD]H WKLVODQGVFDSH³LQWHQVLYHO\´IRUDEULHISHULRGDQGWKXV H[KDXVWWKHVRLOHYHQIXUWKHU7KH\DOVRFUHDWHDQDWX- UDOG\QDPLFUHVXOWLQJLQDPRVDLFODQGVFDSHZLWKVPDOO IRUHVWQXFOHLWKDWJUDGXDOO\WUDQVLWLRQLQWRDQRSHQORZ- ODQGZLWKPRRUVDQGKHDWKHUSRRUJUDVVODQGV$JUD- ]LQJEORFNDFFHVVLEOHWRZDONHUVZDVVHWXSWRPDNH JUD]LQJSRVVLEOH

%URQWRSRJUD¿VFKHNDDUW 1/10.000 raster, zwart-wit (1991-2001) NGI, (OC GIS-Vlaanderen) 'U\WRPRLVWPL[HGIRUHVW Renovation of the Bedmar Line active forest formation 7KH %HGPDU /LQH DORQJ WKH %HOJLDQ'XWFK ERUGHU LV In the southeast and north east of the area the rehydra- DQ H[WHQVLYH UHPLQGHU IURP WKH WK FHQWXU\ RI WKH tion is less obvious and less spontaneous forest forma- EDWWOHEHWZHHQWKH6SDQLVKDQGWKH'XWFK7KH/LQH WLRQZLOORFFXU$FWLYHIRUHVWIRUPDWLRQLVUHTXLUHGKHUHLQ FRQVLVWHG RI D PRDW ZLWK D SURWHFWLYH ZDOO EHKLQG LW RUGHUWRHQVXUHDYDULHGQDWXUDOO\PL[HGIRUHVWKHUHWRR $ UHGDQ D WULDQJXODU SURMHFWLRQ ZDV EXLOW DW UHJXODU &OHDULQJDQGWKLQQLQJZLOOWDNHSODFHRQDOLPLWHGVFDOHDV LQWHUYDOV DSSUR[  PHWHUV  7KH UHGDQV HQVXUHG VHWRXWLQWKHPDQDJHPHQWSODQDWUHJXODULQWHUYDOVRYHU WKDW WKH DWWDFNHUV FRXOG EH ¿UHG XSRQ IURP PXOWLSOH DSHULRGRI\HDUVDIWHUZKLFKWKHRSHQDUHDVVSRQWD- SRLQWV)ROORZLQJWKH3HDFHRI8WUHFKWLQWKHIDU- QHRXVO\WUDQVLWLRQLQWRIRUHVW,QWKLVZD\DVWUXFWXUHULFK PHUVZHUHRQFHDJDLQDOORZHGWRXVHWKH/LQHDQGWKH PL[HGIRUHVWZLOOJUDGXDOO\UHSODFHWKHPRQRWRQRXVSLQH- typical shape disappeared in many places. In this area ZRRGSODQWDWLRQV$JDLQLQWKHVH]RQHVWKHUHLVDJRRG WKHVKDSHZDVIDLUO\ZHOOSUHVHUYHG7KHGHIHQFHZDOO FKDQFHWKDWPRRUODQGVDQGKHDWKHUSRRUJUDVVODQGVZLOO DORQJWKHIRUHVWKRXVHKDVEHHQUHVWRUHGRYHUDVKRUW DSSHDU7KHVWLOOYLDEOHVHHGVLQWKHVRLOZLOOEHQH¿WIURP GLVWDQFH P $ERDUGZDONOHDGVWRWKHFRQVWUXFWLRQ WKHVHQHZRSHQDUHDV$QXPEHURISORWVZLWKYHU\JRRG ZKLFKZLOOEHDFFHVVLEOHWRZDONHUV7KH)RUW6LQW-DQ FKDQFHVRIIRUPLQJPRRUODQGVKDYHDOUHDG\EHHQFOHD- IURPWKHWKFHQWXU\LVDOVRDUHPLQGHURIWKHEDWWOH UHGDQGZLOOIRUPSHUPDQHQWRSHQDUHDVLQWKHIRUHVW EHWZHHQWKH6SDQLVKDQGWKHµ5HSXEOLFDQ1HWKHUODQGV¶ 7KHUHDUHQRZWZRYLHZLQJKROHVIRU\RXWRORRNDWWKH PRDW7KLVPHDVXUHZDVLPSOHPHQWHGLQFRQVXOWDWLRQ ZLWKWKHRZQHU

Ponds receive a natural covering More light in the road verges

7KHIRUPHU¿VKSRQGDORQJWKH(DQGWKHSRQGVLQ 2IWHQWKHIRUHVWFDVWVDVKDGRZDORQJWKHWUDFNRYHUWKH WKH VRXWKHDVW DGMDFHQW WR WKH SOD\ ]RQH  DQG WKHLU URDGYHUJHDQGWKLVFDXVHVWKHWUDQVLWLRQVEHWZHHQIR- VXUURXQGLQJVZLOOXQGHUJRDWKRURXJKUHQRYDWLRQ7KH UHVWDQGRSHQVSDFHWREHDEUXSWDQGVKDUS$JUDGXDO EDQNVZHUHJLYHQDQHZSUR¿OHZKLFKDOORZHGQDWXUDO WUDQVLWLRQIURPJUDVVODQGRYHUVKUXEVWRWUHHVLVPXFK YHJHWDWLRQWRGHYHORS PRUHLQWHUHVWLQJIRUPDQ\SODQWVDQGVSHFLHVDQ\ZD\ VPDOOPDPPDOVEXWWHUÀLHVLQVHFWV« 7KHHGJHRI the forest (the mantle) contains species that need the FRYHUSURYLGHGE\WKHIRUHVWEXWDOVROLNHSOHQW\RIOLJKW 2QWKHRXWHUHGJH WKHHGJH ZKHUHWKHIRUHVWWUDQV- IRUPVLQWRJUDVVODQGLVKRPHWRSODQWVSHFLHVWKDWDUH OHVVUHVLVWDQWWREHLQJWUDPSOHG7KHUHIRUHWKHYHUJHV DORQJWKHSDWKVZHUHWDFNOHG%\RSHQLQJWKHPXSLQ FHUWDLQSODFHVDQGPDQDJLQJWKHPVXLWDEO\WKHYHUJHV UHFHLYHPRUHOLJKWVRWKDWLQWHUHVWLQJYHJHWDWLRQVDUH able to take root here. The first results: woodlark and heather return

Woodlark Heather

,Q0D\WKHZRUNLQWKH6WURSHUVERVZDVVWLOOLQIXOOVZLQJZKHQWKH¿UVWUHVXOWVEHFDPHQRWLFHDEOH$EUHHGLQJFDVH of the woodlark was reported in the cleared plots (former coarse pine). Of course this was taken into consideration and the WXU¿QJDFWLYLWLHVZHUHWHPSRUDULO\VZLWFKHGWRDQRWKHU]RQH

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The woodlark looks like the more common skylark, but can be distinguished by the shorter tail, the clearly visible supercilium (line above eyebrow) and the ab- sence of white on the sides of the tail.

The nest is built on the ground, near a tree that can be used as a singing perch or lookout perch by the male. The woodlark’s diet consists mainly of insects and other small animals. Usually, you will hear the woodlark singing before you see it. Whilst singing, he will glide in large circles above his territory. At the end of the VRQJKHZLOOJOLGHGRZQLQDVSLUDOÀLJKW7KHZRRGODUNLVDELUGIRXQGPDLQO\LQGU\ sandy areas and it prefers moorlands with shrubs and dispersed trees.

The ¿HOGFULFNHW lives in dry, slightly covered habitats, such as moorlands. They dig a burrow under a tussock of grass or under plant roots. A type of podium is cleared in front of the hole, where the cricket can sun itself, attract females and chirrup, being able to hide quickly in case of disturbance. They also hide in the hole during bad weather and seal the hole at the start of the winter in order to hi- EHUQDWH7KHLUVRQJLVDUROOLQJFOHDUVRXQG7KH¿HOGFULFNHWRFFXUVLQRQO\DIHZ places in Flanders, including here. Their numbers have increased spectacularly since the start of activities. Recreational activities in the Stropersbos

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Walking routes, cycle routes and riding paths

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1943 - Simonne Begyn with friends Anna Suy (in front right), girls from the Koestraat (in the back right) 0DQ\SHRSOHKDYHEHDXWLIXORULQWHUHVWLQJPHPRULHVRI6WURSHUVERV %HORZ\RXZLOO¿QGDVHOHFWLRQRIWKHVWRULHVWKDWZHUHFHLYHG Strope rs bos during World War 2 … My story starts with the occupation by the Germans, so May 1940, when I was six years old. We had only been occupied for two or three days when a rumour started at school that an aeroplane – and not just any plane but a Belgian Air Force SODQH±KDGODQGHGQH[WWRWKH6WURSHUVERVLQD¿HOGEHORQJLQJWRWKH'H3DHSHIDPLO\7KLVZDVYHU\H[FLWLQJQHZVWRXV :KHQVFKRRO¿QLVKHGDWIRXUR¶FORFNZHDOOUDQKRPHDQGWKHQRQWRWDNHDORRN$QGVXUHHQRXJKWKHUHZDVWKHDHURSODQH ZLWKWKHIDPLOLDUURXQGWULFRORXURI%HOJLXP7KLVZDVWKH¿UVWWLPHWKDWZHKDGVHHQDUHDODHURSODQH±HYHQWKRXJKLWZDV GHVHUWHG±DQZHZDONHGDURXQGLWVHYHUDOWLPHVDJUHDWH[SHULHQFH

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A little house in th e Strope rs bos 7KHKRXVHLVVWLOOWKHUHDOODORQHLQWKHPLGGOHRIWKHIRUHVW7KHKRXVHEHORQJHGWRP\JUDQGSDUHQWV2XUJUDQGIDWKHU ZDVDIRUHVWUDQJHUDQGWKHUHZDVDPHDQGHUWKURXJKWKHIRUHVWFDOOHGWKH/LQH7KHUHZHUHEHDXWLIXOSDWKV GUHYHQ WKH 0DVWHQGUHHIWKH7XQQHOGUHHIDQGPDQ\PRUH0\IDWKHUOLYHGWKHUHIRU\HDUVWRJHWKHUZLWKKLVEURWKHUVDQGVLVWHUV$IWHU KLVZHGGLQJZHPRYHGWRµW.DOIDQGWKHIRUHVWVZHUHQHDUE\RQFHPRUH:HVSHQWRXUKROLGD\VWKHUHWRJHWKHUZLWKPDQ\ RWKHUFKLOGUHQIURPµW.DOI:HGXJGHHSZHOOVEXWLIDWUDFWRUQHHGHGWRJHWSDVWZHKDGWR¿OOHYHU\WKLQJXSDJDLQ6RPH WKLQJZHGH¿QLWHO\GLGHYHU\VXPPHUZDVFROOHFWSLQHFRQHVEDJVRIWKHP7KHVHZHUHXVHGWRVWDUWWKH¿UHLQZLQWHU,QWKH HYHQLQJZKHQLWZDVWLPHWRFRPHKRPHP\IDWKHUZRXOGZKLVWOHXVLQJKLV¿QJHUV7KDWLVKRZZHNQHZWKDWGLQQHUZDV ready. It was a wonderful time. We still cycle through the forest regularly. It remains a treasured memory. 7KHWH[WRQRXUJUDQGIDWKHU¶VGHDWKQRWLFHVDLG

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Clearing canals: Jêrome Begyn (in front) Pietje Dekkers (in the back). Middle man: Mister Schepper and son (1944) Koestraat n° 4, Gustaaf Billiet (big boy with horse)

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Photos: 1) 1937 – De Stroopers. Forest cleared out and ready to plant. Richard Begyn (behind), Jêrome (6 years), Urbain (1 year), Baas Stalaert, wild bearing. 2) Richard Begyn (left) with two friends, also trackers during the hunt. 3) 1944 – Simonne Begyn in front with kitten; Jêrome Begyn with hat between holidaymakers. 4) 1938 – Simonne Begyn, class photo (Hellestraat, Stekene). 5) Simonne Begyn (right) with Suzanne and Annie Drumont from Klinge-Waas. 6) De Stroopers (1937), Richard Begyn squat in front between the hunter, after the hunt. Jêrome Begyn, boy alongside the hunters.

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