On 24 May, the 21st edition of European National Park Day will take place, a day celebrated by many European parks. Of course, due to circumstances, we are doing it online this year. Therefore, Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide proudly presents a new website: http://grensparkkalmthoutseheide.com/en/. The website helps visitors on their way to easily discover the area. A short film was also made especially for the day with Jef De Winter, forester for the Flemish Nature and Forest in Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide.
Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide uses a new website to help visitors quickly find their way around the vast 6,000-hectare area. The website offers a clear overview of how to discover nature and the varied landscape.
Chairman Martin Groffen(Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide): "For many people, a visit to Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide starts online. With this new website, we ensure that people quickly find their way to the right nature experience. For example, the unique filter ensures that hikers find a suitable walk. Walkers can filter by distance and by starting point. You can also very clearly see on which walks the dog can come along. That is possible on a lot of routes, provided the dog is on a leash so it doesn't startle deer or ground-breeding birds like the nightjar."
The website easily adapts to the screen of mobile phones or other devices. Quickly looking up extra information while walking or planning the best route is now very user-friendly.
The many images on the website also make it clear more quickly what a wealth of nature and landscape Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide offers.
The website contains a clear overview of the 27 catering and recreation businesses in the area that welcome visitors as Grenspark hosts. These entrepreneurs have been trained by the Grenspark to help visitors make the most of their visit to the area.
Chairman Martin Groffen(Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide): "Meanwhile, together with our Grenspark hosts, we look forward to the reopening of the catering and accommodation recreation. They will, as soon as it is safely possible, again be ready with courage to offer the ideal setting when visiting Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide."
The theme of National Parks Day is extra topical this year: this year, National Park Day is all about Nature and Health.
National Parks have an important mission to connect people with nature. Parks not only protect our valuable natural environment, they also deliver positive health outcomes. Contact with nature is essential for health, and in an increasingly urbanised Europe, we need to create opportunities for citizens to explore the outdoors. Positive contact with nature has proven to create well-being and promote active lifestyles.
Chairman Martin Groffen(Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide): "The presence of Corona made many visitors on both sides of the border look for bits of nature nearby. This confirmed the value of a brisk walk or a nice bike ride through a natural landscape. It keeps people mentally and physically healthy. Moreover, taking into account social distancing, nature turned out to be the ideal environment to meet up with friends in a limited way now that bars and restaurants remained closed. We hope that this social reality will be converted into strengthening areas like Grenspark Kalmthoutse Heide through additional nature links and an extensive recreational network."
British research shows that nature is healthy and that people who spend at least two hours a week in nature rate their lives higher. Nature gives you a boost that makes you feel fitter and happier. Research proves that it is good for your creativity, relaxation, physical fitness, concentration and mood. Even watching nature images has a positive effect.
In short: nature does you good!
Because of the special situation we are currently living in, we are celebrating National Park Day online this year. Organising on-site events is difficult as we know, but we can still enthuse, inform and remind people of the value of their parks in a digital format! For this occasion, we created the hashtag #ParksForHealth and #NatureDoesGood. To make the Netherlands better acquainted with National Parks and still let people experience the special nature of National Parks during National Park Day 2020, we will organise a National Park Day from Friday 22 May at 12:00:
Thus, during National Park Day, we offer everyone the opportunity to discover the special nature of the National Parks under the motto: 'nature does you good'. Sharing can be done with the following hashtags:
#dayofNationalPark #ParksForHealth #naturedoesyougood #europeandayofparcs
