Interview with nature guide Fred

For 32 years, Fred Severin has lived in Huijbergen, on the edge of Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide. Since 2006, he has been a Nature Guide with Nareka, Visit Kalmthout and IVN on both the Dutch and Flemish sides of the park. Nature does not care about national borders, which is why the guides have also worked well together for years. Besides being a nature guide, Fred is also active as an amateur photographer and takes 360-degree photos twice a year at ninety fixed locations for monitoring in the Grenspark. He does this together with a Flemish volunteer. Fred also takes many macro photos, with a preference for insects and mushrooms.

Rather be outside

As a child, Fred preferred being outside rather than at school, which is why he joined the scouts (scouting): "The love for nature was there from an early age. Combined with the passion for photography I got from my father, this resulted in my hobby as a nature photographer. When working as a nature guide and photographer in the Grenspark, I come into contact with many different people and organisations. This also makes the work so fascinating. In all my excursions, I always tell something about the history of the area. For example, did you know that the Netherlands was one country with Belgium from 1814 to 1830?"

Fred likes to let people experience the enormous diversity right in front of their feet: "As long as you learn to look carefully, there is always something to see. I call this "Nature on the square metre". Explore what you find in 1^{m2 of} life. It is beautiful to see the amazement in people then".

Fred enjoys visiting the Grenspark because of its great diversity: "Sand drifts, woods, hills, fens, sandy soil, everything is there. There are also parts of the park where you can experience vastness, desolation and silence. Unfortunately, it has become increasingly crowded in some places since corona, but fortunately the wide, quiet places are still there."

Heikikker
Under the partnership 'Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide', parties and landowners have been working together since 2001 to create one nature from the two countries: "This cooperation is very important for the preservation and improvement of nature. Only together can you take good steps."

Fred's favourite spots in the park are the quiet spots and the tops of the hills: "This is where I like to sit, look around and marvel at what there is to see. Just letting it happen always brings a surprise. Every day is different, every day a new story. For example, during a photo shoot, where I spent some time somewhere in the middle of the field, I was suddenly surprised by a hen harrier, which is a unique moment that makes me happy and delighted. Another beautiful moment was last year at De Nol when the moor frog was abundant there. The males of the moor frog take on a blue colour during the mating season that is only present for a few days. Seeing these 'blue frogs' is therefore a rarity. After sitting quietly for some time, the frogs first announced themselves with a distinctive 'bubble bath' sound after which they carefully emerged." Sharing and letting people experience this sense of wonder is something Fred loves and is passionate about during his excursions and tours.

Looking to the future
Fred prefers that the care and love for nature is passed on to future generations: "Awareness of your environment and nature and seeing your own role in it is essential for nature conservation and restoration. By also providing excursions to young people, focusing on discovery and wonder, I hope to contribute to this. For the future, I hope for the park that through good collaborative management and policies, biodiversity can be increased and nitrogen deposition reduced."