Bertelbos

The Bertelbos is a spring forest in Strijpen on the border with Roborst. The forest is located on the Kleie and the Kluisstraat and slopes slowly to the bank of the Zwalm in the Zwalm valley. The name used to be Betterbos, which comes from 'bitter bosch'. Canada poplar has been planted in the Bertelbos; Furthermore, there is a varied shrub layer of coppice. There also grows common ash, elder, hazel, elm, pedunculate oak, black alder, willow, red dogwood, common maple, linden, spanish barge, false acacia and sweet chestnut. Despite the human influences, the Bertelbos has a special vegetation, with duckberry, badger garlic, slender primrose. The forest area is part of the Flemish Ecological Network and is European protected as part of Natura 2000 area Forests of the Flemish Ardennes and other South Flemish forests. The Bertelbos is owned by private owners; it is only accessible via the hiking network 'Vlaamse Ardennen-Zwalmvallei'.

Wikipedia