Rest for nurseries in nature
After a very mild winter, the first harbingers of spring can already be seen in abundance: toad migration has started and birds are preparing for the breeding season, which officially starts on 15 March.
Because many rare breeding birds have been under extra pressure lately, some paths in the centre of the heathland will be temporarily closed during this period to give the birds the necessary rest. Curlew and nightjar in particular need adequate rest in the area as ground-breeding birds.
Route Ree and Mont Noir will remain fully accessible, as will Schaap en Duin, together with the connecting path between those two routes via the Kambuusduinen. A number of connecting paths will be closed. These paths are marked with footsteps. Outside the breeding season, however, these connecting paths will remain accessible.
Together with site managers, we call attention to the breeding season again
During the pandemic, foresters saw a significant increase in interest and recreation in nature. Even now that there are almost no more corona measures, they see that nature remains busy. The increased crowds could cause problems during the breeding season. With a joint action, the site managers are asking to take into account vulnerable animals in nature reserves.
Anyone who goes on a maternity visit knows that peace, hygiene and a bit of distance are important for a brand-new family. Mother Nature's maternity rooms call for exactly the same. In many areas, therefore, posters and banners with the text 'welcome to Mother Nature's nursery' have been hanging since this week. With this, the nature organisations want to welcome visitors and at the same time point out the vulnerability of the place where they are. All spring, they are in fact on a maternity visit to nature, the habitat of many breeding, mating and birthing animals and of new, growing plants. We therefore ask visitors to treat the nurseries respectfully: Stay on the paths, leash dogs, don't leave litter.
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.