Breeding season: rest for vulnerable nature

Thursday 6 March 2025

As spring makes its appearance, nature awakens from its winter sleep in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. Nature is busy! Birds are building their nests and roe deer are preparing for the arrival of their calves. The woods, moors and fens are a breeding ground for new life at this time, but at the same time nature is at its most vulnerable during the breeding season. We therefore want to appeal to all our visitors to be mindful of this delicate ecosystem. Together with the site managers, we ask for extra attention to the breeding season in the period from 15 March to 30 June.

With the arrival of the first ground-breeding birds, mainly migratory birds from the south, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide will become a breeding ground for special species such as the nightjar, woodlark, tree pipit, stonechat and curlew. These rare species build their nests hidden among the grass and heather bushes, where they keep a watchful eye out for potential threats such as crows, foxes, magpies and domestic cats. In case of danger, they fly away to warn conspecifics and lure the predator away.

People and dogs also often see them as a threat where they temporarily leave the nest. Only this should not happen too much, otherwise they will not hatch their eggs. That's why we try to give them all the rest every spring. For this reason, special zones are reserved in the reserve for them during their breeding period. This means that from 15 March to 30 June, certain paths are not accessible for recreation.

Not only in the temporarily closed areas, but also outside them, rare animals try to find their place. Together with the land managers, we therefore draw attention to nature. So always stay on the marked hiking trails, only take your dog where it is allowed and always keep it on a leash.

Route Ree, Mont Noir, Schaap en Duin, as well as the connecting path between those two routes via the Kambuusduinen, remain fully accessible. Some connecting paths (marked with footsteps) will be temporarily closed during the breeding season, but will remain open outside this period.

Outdoor code for nature
Sportsmen and recreationalists are also increasingly encountering each other in nature. To give each other space and protect nature, there is the Outdoor Code:

Be friendly, give each other space
Keep dogs on a leash at all times
Feel responsible for your own behaviour towards nature and its users
Dare to address another's behaviour
Stay on the paths and give nature space
A number of paths use both hikers, cyclists/MTB and horse riders. Show in a calm and friendly way that you are coming so that other recreationists/horses are not startled and reduce speed if you are using the path with a bicycle or horse.

Additional information: