De Pomp/Poelberg

Scots pines were planted on the former heathland, which are now gradually making way for native trees and shrubs such as oak, birch, rowan, sporke wood, etc. The rest of the site has been heavily excavated during the search for clay. Two large pits were left like scars in the landscape, filling with water. The largest and deepest well is now used as fishing water, the smaller shallower well has a natural function. Grebes now breed here and rare plants such as empty bladderwort and floating rushes grow.

In De Pomp-Poelberg you can clearly see the traces of an industrial past. Over the course of the 20th century, almost the entire landscape was literally overhauled for the brick industry. The two large clay pits filled with water still bear witness to the hard work that was done here.The 1.9 km 'Poelbergpad' walking loop or the 3.7 km Galloway path invite you to discover the nature reserve.

The Pomp-Poelberg is separated from the Abtsheide nature reserve by the Lange Kwikstraat. Both nature reserves are a remnant of the historic Ab (t) sheide (800ha), which stretched across the border of the municipalities of Beerse, Rijkevorsel and Merksplas.These areas together make up a varied nature reserve of 27 hectares. In De Pomp (Beerse) you will find an old clay pit that is now occupied by grebes and rare plants. All native salamander species occur in the pools of De Poelberg (Rijkevorsel). Proof that nature is doing well there!De Pomp consists of a clay pit of the same name, a remnant of the former brick industry, which is surrounded by mixed deciduous wood and pine forest. The Poelberg is a mosaic of scrubs, bushes, pools and sparse grasslands. Both areas are separated from each other by the natural gas route: a wide, treeless strip where a species-rich skid grassland develops.From May to December graze in De Pomp-Poelberg gallow