Galloway Schellebelle at 8,0km

Start : Veer Schellebelle via junctions : 1-2-22-23-97-95-98-92-99-89-87-94-93-96-4-2-2-1- Distance 8,2km

To protect the area from flooding, part of the Kalkense Meersen was returned to the Scheldt. This created a controlled flood zone where large grazers have their feet in the water once every fifty years. The rest of the time it is wonderful to walk between dunes and heathland

The actual starting point of this route is not in Schellebelle, but on the other side of the Scheldt in Aard. There, however, parking facilities are limited and car traffic is discouraged. Fortunately, the ferryman or woman will send you across the water with a smile. All you have to do is ring the bell. Below you will find the sailing schedule. Keep an eye on your clock so that you can get back to your car after your walk.

This walking route starts in Schellebelle at café Den Aard. Since the reconstruction of the square in 2016, Aard, a hamlet of the municipality of Wichelen, has been an important gateway to the Kalkense Meersen for walkers and cyclists. They like to settle down on the terrace of café Den Aard, or that of café Scheldebries, with a view of the work Voyager by landscape artist Will Beckers, an installation made of metal and wood in the shape of a heart.

NATUURPUNTBOERDERIJ 'T MEERSENHOF

As a result of the Sigma plan, some farmers stopped their activities in the Kalkense Meersen. One of these farms now serves as a base for Natuurpunt. The fluffy galloway cattle that graze part of the area come to hibernate here. There are also regular activities and guided walks.

In 2012, the Verbeke Foundation organised a project with temporary and permanent ecological art along the Scheldt. A remnant of this Stream of Sculptures is the Salicetum by Will Beckers, the man who also drew for the heart-shaped sculpture on the square in Aard. Beckers weaves together a thousand living willow branches: an ode to the willow, which has been connected to the area for centuries. The artwork naturally becomes more impressive with age.

RING DIKE

As part of the Sigma plan, part of the Kalkense Meersen was repurposed in 2015 as a controlled flood zone with a new, imposing ring dike. According to the estimates, the area within the ring dike will flood once every fifty years to buffer the water of the Scheldt. Weekend houses, fields and loose fragments of forest gave way to an open lake landscape and a large piece of forest, with a beautiful view from the ring dike as icing on the cake.

HEISBROEK

The Heisbroek is a former peat pit. In the 17th and 18th centuries, peat was cut here on a large scale. This created a pond that was fished for a long time and gradually silted up. In 1930 it was decided to re-create the pond. The dredged material was dumped in the middle, which explains the presence of a wooded islet. Today the Heisbroek is a valuable nature reserve. Both the water and the surrounding forests attract many bird species.

WIJMEERS 1 & 2 David Samyn

Wijmeers is a sub-area of the Kalkense Meersen on the left bank of the Scheldt, which was split in two by an overflow dike. Wijmeers 1 serves as a controlled flood zone. At extremely high tide, the area can flood, even though it is estimated that this will not happen more than once every half century. In the meantime, nature is given free rein here. The numerous pools were given ecological banks to please frogs and waterfowl. A swamp zone was set up for amphibians and insects. And with interventions such as a bat hotel and a large bank swallow wall, animal species also feel delighted here.

On the other side of the overflow dike, part of the Kalkense Meersen was depoldered. Thanks to a wide opening in the Scheldedijk, Wijmeers 2 has been subject to the tides since the Sigma works. Twice a day the area is flooded by river water, resulting in a fine example of tidal nature. By allowing ebb and flow again, valuable freshwater mudflats and salt marshes, reed land and willow flood forest are created. Ducks, gulls, geese and waders feel at home here. Info: @Routen

lots of walking fun Emiel Peeters