Low-threshold Overijssel routes - wild grazers and water bodies in Buurserzand

It is Mother's Day, nice weather, and we decide to go for this walk with the whole family, including dog and baby. We start the walk at the De Ronde Bulten car park, from where we actually immediately meander into a forest path. Everything is in fantastic bloom and the trees give us their shade, because it is already quite warm to walk in the sun! Once out of the forest we look out over a beautiful peat area; a bit swampy, heathland and a few impressive trees complete the landscape. We walk over a boardwalk, where the extensive lakes provide a breathtaking piece of the Netherlands. From the wet lakes, we go over to a piece of grazing area, where the landscape is maintained with game. If you are lucky you can see some cattle here, although we completely missed them today. A little later we come to the locally known Buursermeertje, a dug-out lake that is not very deep. We let our dog (on a leash!) into the water for a while, and we also go for a paddle ourselves. The water is lovely, but the sides are a bit muddy, so a towel is recommended. This is also a lovely picnic spot and it is therefore not surprising that several families were having an extensive lunch here in the shade of the trees that surround the lake. After the break at the lake we walk along a bit of heathland and finally a forest path, to finally arrive back at the car on the other side of the parking lot. We ended the walk by eating a pancake at De Hooge Esch, a very nice nearby restaurant with a nice playground where we enjoyed ourselves on the terrace. A successful Mother's Day!

I love walking through the raised bogs in the Netherlands☺️😉Haaksbergerveen and Buuserzand haven't seen the last of me, I'm already looking forward to August 😄😉☺️ The Natura 2000 site Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen in the Dutch province of Overijssel consists of two distinct landscape types: Buurserzand: A heathland on former drifting sand with a mixture of wet and dry heathlands and juniper bushes. Haaksbergerveen: A raised bog area with peat pits and dams, partially transformed into floating islands of vegetation by previous rewetting measures. Both sub-areas are ecologically stressed by nitrogen inputs and changes in the water balance. Monitoring and Measures Since 2018, various indicators have been monitored to assess the effectiveness of measures to restore natural habitats. The measures implemented so far include: M11: Coppice management and thinning M14: Plagging M15: Removal of woody vegetation M18: Additional grazing No conclusive statements can yet be made about the effectiveness of these measures, as either the measures have not been effective long enough or the monitoring data are not yet sufficient. The monitoring to date has primarily served to record the baseline (baseline) status. Recommendations and further steps The Nature Target Analysis (Naturdoelanalyse) highlights that nature in Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen is under pressure. Important prerequisites for a healthy natural environment, such as a functioning water system and sufficient connections to other natural areas, are not present. In addition, the area is burdened with excessive nitrogen inputs. It is recommended that hydrological measures be implemented swiftly in the peripheral zones of the fen to prevent further ecological degradation and promote restoration. In addition, measures to reduce nitrogen inputs should be taken as soon as possible. Further information Detailed information and documents on Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen are available on the following websites: Natura 2000 – Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen Ecological Authority – Advice Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen Province of Overijssel – Natural Environment Analysis These resources provide comprehensive insights into the current challenges and planned measures to preserve and restore the unique natural environment in Buurserzand & Haaksbergerveen.

What a crowd today on the Buurserzand! But what a beautiful walk over the heath and through the forest