Resting place Free grazing

Resting place 'saspunt' with attachment post for riders.

The open pasture is one of the few areas in West Flanders where typical field birds such as partridge, skylark and meadow pipit live. The so-called field and meadow birds have declined in number in the last twenty years. So time for action. The VLM concludes voluntary contracts with farmers in the Vrijgeweid. The farmer receives a compensation for implementing arable bird-friendly measures. One of the focus species is the skylark. Since the actions, there have been more breeding cases!

9 white farms in the Vrijgeweid testify to the period of arable farming. They were farms with a gable roof, built in brick and painted completely white. It is typical that the house, stables, storage spaces, shed and shed were housed under one roof. This created a functional unit, which made the white farms an architectural example in the agricultural world. Two farms have been preserved in their original condition on the outside.

A little further by the pool is a work of art: "Birdfree in the open pasture"

The artwork in the center of the pool depicts a blue heron. The bird was created by local artist Alain Cool. He refers to the field ponds that used to be in this region, and which were built to breed fish. The heron fed on salamanders, fish and frogs found in the field ponds.

Willem Vandenameele