The wild beauty of the oak-hornbeam forest

Along the steep slopes, the diverse oak-hornbeam forest dominates. This has been the original form of management for centuries. It is a mixed forest, where oak and hornbeam prevail. Since these forests were cut down every 15 to 20 years, the trees never "mature," resulting in a rich diversity of species. The herb layer, in particular, is well developed. A prominent plant that we often see here is the oak fern. In steeper, wetter areas, mosses and other ferns define the appearance.
When we think of the use of the wood, we often assume that it was used for construction work, carpentry, carts, and small utensils. But the oaks still had a special function. The bark, which contains a lot of tannin, was ground into powder and used in tanneries. Tanning or tannic acid ensures that the remaining flesh and hair of the hides are loosened and makes the leather durable.
In this region, the ground was set on fire after deforestation. In this way, the tree stumps were partially destroyed, and the soil could be prepared for the cultivation of rye and oats. However, the soil quickly became depleted, and humans let nature take its course again. After a short period of heathland, an oak-hornbeam forest emerged once more.

Jan Rymenams