Nature reserve Kolkensvijver or 'de Vetwei'

The Kolkensvijver, commonly referred to as ‘the Vetwei’, is located in Wolfsdonk. It was perhaps the last ‘common’ meadow in the region. In the past, farmers would herd their cattle into a shared pasture for a fee per animal. This practice was more common in the Hageland and the Kempen among small farmers and especially among day laborers and workers who did not own enough land to let their animals graze.

The area has long been owned by the well-to-do Boeckx family who owned a farm next to the church in Wolfsdonk. It is believed that the exploitation of the land stopped over twenty years ago, allowing nature to take its course. In 2014, there were rumors that the area would be used by a contractor to ‘raise’ the land. The neighboring residents did not agree with this and protested. When the area was put up for sale a few years ago, there was interest from Natuurpunt to purchase it. The purchase was not immediately feasible. A private individual became the owner but wants to restore and preserve the area in its glory. Natuurpunt became the ideal partner and has been managing the area since 2019.

For Natuurpunt, this is an interesting area. Despite the lack of management in the past decades, the grassland is still relatively well intact: the relief has been preserved, the vegetation has naturally become somewhat overgrown, and the water management is not heavily disturbed. Landscapewise, the vetwei looks very beautiful.

Moreover, Kolkensvijver, with its nearly 10 hectares, is quite large. It is strategically located between the nature reserves Langdonken and Averbode Forest and Heath. The valley of the Kalsterloop could serve as a beautiful nature-rich connecting area between these two natural gems.

Currently, the aim is to restore the former species-rich dry grassland as much as possible through management.
 

Toerisme Aarschot