The De Putten nature reserve (16 hectares, sub-municipality of Melsen) is part of the Scheldemeersen.
The history of its origins has an industrial past, as the area was used for expanding land. This means that the clay layer was excavated for the production of bricks.
This so-called 'Scheldt stone' was fired on site in small field ovens. Due to the high groundwater level, a swampy area quickly developed on these exhausted areas, where at most Canada poplars could survive. These were therefore planted en masse for the cuttings factories in Geraardsbergen, but that too has now become industrial archaeology.
The first purchases were made in 1993 and the nature reserve has now grown into a mosaic of 16 hectares of moist meadows, lakes, swamps and swamp forests. A few plots of the old poplar forests remain for the Oriole and the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, two uncommon bird species that like to feed in those trees.
'De Putten' is part of the nature reserve 'De Scheldemeersen', where Natuurpunt already manages or owns 120 hectares. De Scheldemeersen is located in Merelbeke and De Pinte (covering an area of 600 hectares).
The area can be viewed along the Trekweg (Scheldedijk) and the Meersstraat. One or more guided walks are organized every year.
Source: Natuurpunt