데스텔베르겐‬에서 가장 멋진 ‪20‬개의 천연기념물

The Aelmoeseneiebos (or Aalmoezenijebos) is a nature reserve on the territory of the municipalities of Melle (Gontrode) and Oosterzele (Landskouter). The forest is 28.5 hectares in size and is owned by the University of Ghent. The forest area is now managed by the university Lab for Forest & Nature. The railway line Ghent-Geraardsbergen divides the forest in two. The Aelmoeseneiebos is an old forest area that already appeared on the Ferraris map in 1775. The forest was owned by the Saint Bavo's Abbey of Ghent for centuries. During the French period (1794-1815) it was transferred to the public poor relief of the city of Ghent. In 1967-1968 the Belgian State bought the forest so that the University of Ghent could use it as a test forest. The most important tree species are summer oak and beech, with ash and maple in the stream valleys. The Aelmoeseneiebos is known for its spring flora such as wood anemone, slender primrose, yellow dead-nettle and small periwinkle. During the First World War, the forest was largely cut down but replanted in 1920. Adjacent to the western part of the Aelmoeseneiebos, 10 hectares of plots of land belonging to Natuurpunt, Oosterzele department, are located in the valley of the Gondebeek. With the 'Rodeland landscape project' [1], the aim is to connect the Aelmoeseneiebos with the Makegemse forests through afforestation in the valleys of the Gondebeek, Kerkesbeek and Driesbeek[2][3]. In 2021, 5 amphibian tunnels were constructed in the Gondebeek valley[4]. Inventories and research in the Aelmoeseneiebos found 1329 different species: including 64 tree and shrub species and 599 species of invertebrates. The Aelmoeseneiebos is protected in Europe as part of the Natura 2000 area (habitat directive area) 'Forests of the south-east of the Zandleemstreek' (BE2300044). The forest is freely accessible on the footpaths.

The peace of nature

This nature reserve is a remnant of an extensive forest area that gradually had to make way for agriculture in the 18th century. The surrounding land and the forest were owned for centuries by the Aalmoezenij, the poor relief of the Ghent Saint Bavo's Abbey. The production of wood was the main function at that time. The forest was purchased by the Belgian state in 1967-1968 so that the University of Ghent could use it as a test forest. In the early years, it was mainly used for studies on the growth and management of forests with a view to wood production. It also had a recreational and educational function. Railway line 122 Melle-Geraardsbergen divides the forest in two. In the western part (where we walked) an arboretum was created in 1973. With the 'Rodeland landscape project', the aim is to connect the Aelmoeseneiebos with the Makegemse forests through further afforestation of a number of stream valleys.

The redevelopment of the duck decoy is part of the Berlare Broek-Donkmeer nature development project. This project fits in with the vision of the Berlare municipal council to give the popular Donkmeer and its surroundings a contemporary look. The site of the duck decoy was given a thorough makeover. It was redeveloped with respect for the most vulnerable zones and remains open to the public. (Public space database)

13세기부터 스헬더 강은 베테렌, 칼켄, 스헬레벨레 사이를 우아하게 구불구불 흘렀습니다. 1890년경, 배의 항해 경로를 3.5킬로미터 단축하는 지름길이 만들어졌습니다. 오래된 강바닥은 퇴적물로 막혔지만, 2018년에 칼켄세 메르센의 강변 특성을 복원하기 위해 오우데 스헬더 강이 다시 준설되었습니다. 24번 교차로 근처에서 오래된 강 굴곡이 모든 영광 속에 다시 졸졸 흐릅니다. 전망대에서 감상할 수 있습니다. (Routen.be)

A new lookout tower provides a view of this old meander...

The small white building near the duck decoy, the cage house, was never a home, but the decoy man could warm himself by the fireplace, store his maintenance materials, temporarily store the captured ducks and possibly also spend the night in a sleeping alcove during a busy fishing period. This cage house burned down in 1995 and was rebuilt in 1997. On an old picture card, depicted on the information board against the wall of the house, published around 1913, we see the cage man Sander Goossens with his dog at the then cage house. The huge poplar near this cage house served as a beacon in the landscape: this way, flying ducks that had previously stayed here could recognize this place from afar. Source: information board on site

definitely recommended. Very nice bus