Leopoldsburg

The Lozerheide (250 hectares) primarily extends over the territory of the municipality of Bocholt. From the parking lot on the N747, the road between Kaulille and Weert, you can start walks through this area. There are both old flow fields and beautiful breeding ponds present. Moreover, there are quite a few deciduous trees. Along the Bosleerpad, you can learn a lot about nature. The creation of the waterings near Lozerheide dates back to 1835 when the barracks in Leopoldsburg developed significantly. There was a great need for hay for the straw bags of the soldiers and for the horses, but there were not enough good lands in the area. Therefore, about 2700 hectares of heathland near the Kempen Canal were irrigated. After World War I, the demand for hay decreased because soldiers received better bedding and fewer horses were used. Until 1966, this area was owned by Union Allumetière, a factory that planted poplars to process them into matches. Due to years of irrigation with calcium-rich canal water, the soil became more fertile, and plants, bushes, and trees that did not previously occur in this region now grow here.

Lannoo