Fox den - sparse hayland

In 1980, the then oriole department took a first plot of no more than 34 ears for rent. With the proceeds of a released LP with bird sounds, she bought this plot in 1989. It is an extremely valuable nutrient-poor hayfield.

Based on the geological map, one can suspect that the subsurface consists of Paniselian. The soil profile shows very low soil development. In the coppice there is an extremely thin humus layer of a few centimeters thick and in hayland only a slight discoloration is noticeable due to humus. A loam layer is missing: no loess was deposited on the steep eastern slopes during the last Ice Age because the west wind blew that material over the slope to the flat plateau. The small amount of loam that remained on the steep slope was subsequently washed away by erosion.

It is precisely this poor (= nutrient-poor) situation that makes this plot have high potentials for special plant growth. Natuurpunt Zwalmvallei also wants to use these high potentials in the adjacent plots through adapted management.

Natuurpunt Zwalmvallei