Scherpenberg 21.4km

Start/arrival Hotond Sporthotel or Cafe Zandstraat Kluisbergen

via junction points 92-87-93-94-14-15-18-38-16-20-65-70-69-37-21-22-76-52-9-10-50-11-12-13-92-

Walking also along the KLUISBOSKAPPEL (white tank)

#hotond #scherpenberg

The Hotond-Scherpenberg (45 hectares) is a largely wooded hillock whose shape reveals how the landscape used to look. Three million years ago, the hillocks were still like a sandbank off the coast of the shallow and tropical North Sea. Today, they host a rich variety of forest types and species-rich grasslands. Put on your hiking boots and climb to the highest point in East Flanders, the Hotond, or walk through the green mosaic of the Scherpenberg.

The actual Scherpenberg is at 125 m the smallest of our known West Flemish hills. The small hilltop, which is merely a bump on top of a broader slope, stands out well in the hilly landscape as a nicely rounded little wood. This wood at the hilltop (about 5 ha) is privately owned. At the end of 2004, this wood was put up for sale. Unfortunately, the asking price was so exorbitantly high that neither the Flemish Region (ANB) nor our association could make a bid...

On either side of the hilltop, beautiful stream valleys develop. In the beautiful, east-oriented valley, some plots are owned by the Flemish Region (ANB) as nature reserves.

Our association has been caring for the northern valley since 1996. The recognized nature reserve of the Scherpenberg by Natuurpunt lies along the northern flank of that hill, in the hilly municipality of De Klijte. The elongated nature reserve stretches from the Dikkebusseweg (at the level of the catering establishments on the slope of the Scherpenberg) to Goeberg (street name) and Zandberg (street name).

The Scherpenbergbeek, which shaped the valley, springs from two sources near Dikkebusstraat. The stream is locally named Rozenhillbeek a bit further, at Reningelst, and finally flows into the Grote Beek. In Westouter, it was still called the French Beek, but long before Vlamertinge, it is named the Grote Kemmelbeek, which eventually flows into the Ieperleekanaal.

The Scherpenberg has been a recognized nature reserve since March 7, 2001, and is owned by Natuurpunt. Together with the Broekelzen, the Sulferberg, and the Hellebeek, it is united in the larger recognized nature reserve Bronnen van het Heuvelland, which is about 55 ha large.

The recognized nature reserve lies largely in habitat directive area and is partly designated as Great Nature Unit (GEN) in the VEN demarcation (Flemish Ecological Network). It has grown in recent years through several stages to about 10 ha. The nature area is particularly varied. It partially consists of a wood, a beautiful buttercup grassland, dry and wet grasslands, a reed bed, and a pond.

In 2005, we managed to exchange part (0.6 ha) of the purchase from 2005 with the local user, thereby creating a larger buffer that protects the reed bed and the buttercup grassland from infiltrating fertilization, soil particles, or spray substances. The rest of the purchased field was sown with Italian ryegrass, which is mowed several times a year. The aim is to deplete the soil in this way and gradually allow a herb-rich vegetation to develop. Already after a few years, the real cuckoo flower appeared here and there in this new hay meadow.

Next to the Scherpenbergbeek, a choice was made for the spontaneous development of a streamside forest (hedge stream) from the existing hedge and row of trees. This was quickly a success with, among others, woody plants such as sweet cherry, hazel, common rowan, common ash, European bird cherry, and wild honeysuckle, and herbaceous plants like hop, willowsherb, queen's delight, valerian, and Jacob's-cross-cress.

In 2006, an adjacent Christmas tree field was also taken under management after the last Christmas trees were harvested. The majority spontaneously reforested under a non-intervention management. This new forest, together with a side valley of the Scherpenbergbeek (which is also undergoing reforestation), forms a new forest connection between two existing old woods. The smallest part of the former Christmas tree field will become a fenced shrub-rich grassland that will serve as a connecting piece between two existing meadows. Here we aim for a type of wasteland that is grazed for several weeks each year with cattle from the adjoining meadow to keep it semi-open.

The lower part of the old wood is very marshy: slender primrose, cowslip, musk herb, bulrush, marsh spiraea, and buttercup are all present. Higher up and drier, you find the classics like wood anemone, wild hyacinth, and common Solomon's seal.

The buttercup grassland is extremely valuable; here the real cuckoo flower dominates, which beautifully colors the area pink-red at the end of May. Furthermore, you will find buttercup, cowslip, forget-me-not, common bulrush, field horsetail, true valerian, common angelica, and two-row sedge: typical species for super-wet spring grounds. The management in recent years with two mowing rounds per year (after several years of succession and encroachment) has done its work. The depletion continues, allowing more space for less common species. For the first time, a number of large rattle plants were found in 2010.

The meadows vary from quite dry (where a deserted field spontaneously grassed over in 2003) to fairly wet (the part situated in the lowland of the Scherpenbergbeek valley, which was previously also wet meadow), where the cowslip flourishes. In these meadows, extensive seasonal grazing is the management form.

On the other side of the wood lies a higher and drier slope. Here, it is mowed extensively. This poor grassland is mainly characterized by common pigweed, St. John's wort, and sheep's sorrel. Thus, you can see that this nature area possesses enormous variations and therefore potentials over short distances.

The reed bed in the lowland of the Scherpenbergbeek valley is probably the largest reed bed in Heuvelland and attracts a number of reed birds.

In the pond, toads and brown frogs reproduce. The alternation of neighboring fields and meadows attracts partridges, hares, and pheasants. On three neighboring fields, the rare cornflower brightens the landscape.

Walking tour around the reserve from De Klijte: 6 km

The nature reserve De Scherpenberg and its surroundings can be explored via several beautiful (field) paths. At the beginning, you have to be a bit cautious. We are pleased to present you this beautiful exploration, full of stunning views. The walk is 6 km long and quite sporty.

Start at the church of De Klijte. With your back to the church, take the Kerkhofweg on the right, a narrow street that leads to the Westerse Klijtestraat. Follow this street to the left. Then take the Ommegangstraat on the left, and again keep to the left in the same street. At a T-junction, turn right and you will follow a recently opened field path up past a farm. At the top of the Zandberg (street name), near a recent vineyard, enjoy a lovely panorama of Ypres (so look back!) and the wide surroundings. Go 20 meters to the left and take a field path to the right. Now you have a view of the reserve De Scherpenberg and the hills behind it. The field path descends. You walk around the wood and come down at the reed bed that you follow to the right.

A new path leads you all the way around; nature is getting new opportunities here. Eventually, you arrive at Goeberg (street name) that you follow to the left. Enjoy a total view of the nature area!

At the T-junction, go left. You arrive at the main road to Ypres and cross this Dikkebusstraat at a refuge mound before stepping into the Ronsevaalstraat. At the first intersection with an asphalt road, turn left onto the Kalissestraat and then take the first field path on the left. You come out behind the Scherpenberg: enjoy the unique valley head and the wide view of the Kemmelberg. Descend the Jokweg to the right and you will find yourself back on Kalissestraat which you turn left. A little further lies the nature reserve De Scherpenberg of the Flemish Region (ANB) in the low land on the left from Kalissestraat and the wood of the Zavelaar. On Brulozestraat to the left. You climb out of the valley via the Zavelaarstraat on your left, and so reach the village center of De Klijte again. The beautiful, sporty trip is over.

https://www.debron.be/index.php/natuurgebieden/de-scherpenberg

Enjoy your hike, Emiel Peeters

Also Photos by Vanessa Kinds with permission