England Forest

In the hamlet of Ane lies the hamlet 'Engeland', in which the Engelandse Bos or Varel is located. The original forest was situated around the Korrelbelt, a high drifting sand ridge located on the former stream bed of the river Vecht. In the Korrebelt, formerly called 'Korelbelt or Korenbelt', a stone hammer and chisel were found during excavations, which were usually carried out by local farmers and local residents. This shows that prehistoric times must have already been inhabited at these heights.

The land consolidation carried out immediately after the war in the wider vicinity of the forest, despite the fact that the forest area was left alone, had a major influence on the further development of the Varel through the drainage that followed. Only a small part of this former nature reserve has been preserved. Silent witnesses can still be seen in the form of the vegetation such as willow, black alder and here and there some reeds.

Before the war, this nature reserve was already a popular place for recreation, not only for tourists, but also for the inhabitants of the municipalities of Hardenberg and Gramsbergen. However, the Varel became such an attraction that it simply became too crowded. The visitors caused damage to the nature reserve, perhaps unnoticed, and that is why in 1941 they had to intervene from above: the Varel was closed.

Het Nieuwsblad van het Noorden reported on 17 May 1941:
"They write to us from Hardenberg: It is with great regret that many nature lovers will learn that the owners of the Varel, also called the Engelandsche Bos, have been forced to prohibit access to this forest by placing 'no entry' signs. Upon information, it turned out that this is caused by the gross destructiveness of certain visitors. Birds and hunting are particularly affected. Several spawns of pheasant eggs have been destroyed, among other things. The position of the owners is justifiable, although we regret that due to the vandalism of some, one of the most beautiful places of natural beauty in this area can no longer be generally visited for lovers of unspoiled natural beauty. Visiting this area, which has been designated as a nature reserve and must therefore remain in its current state, was always a pleasure. The unspoilt natural beauty, the flora and fauna, the great tranquility that reigned there, made the true nature lover go there again and again and enjoy it. We hear that the intention is to make tickets available on a limited scale for true nature lovers."

As far as we know, the name 'Varel' was first found in 1652, in a deed in the judicial archives of the former Schoutambt Hardenberg.

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