Recreation area Bieheide. An American in our woods.

The Bieheide was originally one whole with the Lakes. Today it is a recreational area, where it is pleasant to walk, do the fit-o-meter or just sit on a bench for a picnic. The trees are predominantly American oak and Scots pine. These plantings have taken place recently.

Who is this American in our forests?

The American oak or Red Oak, (Quercus rubra) is a fast-growing tree that originates from eastern North America, but was planted in Europe as an ornamental tree. In present-day Belgium, the American oak was first planted in 1803, by Hendrik Stier van Aertselaer, at the castle 'De Mick' in Brasschaat. A disadvantage of the American oak is that it forms a wide and dense crown and therefore crowds out other tree species and does not allow undergrowth. In addition, the thick litter layer makes it more difficult for seeds of other species to germinate successfully. As a result, some forest managers believe that this exotic species does not belong in the Low Countries. About two hundred years ago, the American tree seemed like an ideal tree to plant in parks, forests and along roads. Because the tree was not native, there were hardly any harmful insects that wanted to feast on the tree.

The tree does not live as long as the European oaks. After 40 years, these trees are no longer suitable along avenues because of the danger of falling branches. The American oak can reach a height of 35 m. The wood of the American oak is less durable and has a coarser structure than the wood of the pedunculate oak. The wood is used for flooring and furniture. Veneer and sawn timber for interior applications is of the highest achievable quality, often parquet wood.

If we want to go back to native tree species, the American oak must be removed. Various techniques are used for this. Old specimens in forests can be ringed. By this we mean that by making a ring-shaped incision in the bark, the sap flow is interrupted and the tree dies. The dying trunks offer numerous ecological benefits for fauna and fungi. There is also no operating damage. A disadvantage of this method is that the tree can take several years to die. In those, the tree can still produce quite a lot of seed and generate offspring.

Jan Rymenams