Holtingerveld

Holtingerveld (before 2013 referred to as Havelte-Oost) is a heathland on the Havelterberg moraine. The Havelterberg consists largely of calcareous red boulder clay, which is responsible for the floristic and vegetative diversity of the area. This boulder loam forms a poorly permeable layer, so that even on top of the mountain there are wet conditions, in which heath vegetation occurs. Wet and dry heaths and heischral grasslands in alternation with fens and drifting sands are the important components of this (semi)natural variation. In the fens there are several stages of landfall. The fens also differ in food richness. Around the ash trees there are locally species-rich oak birch forests. In the drifting sand areas that are almost completely forested, small-scale drifting sands are still present locally with characteristic species-poor bunt grass vegetation.

The landscape of Holtingerveld is largely determined by the Havelterberg (the eastern part of the Bisschopsberg). This was formed in the penultimate ice age by the driving effect of an ice tongue in the valley of the Wapserveensche (Steenwijker) Aa. The moraine consists of sandy deposits and boulder clay packages, which are often shallow at the surface. For the most part it concerns grey, low-calcareous boulder clay, but as a special feature local red boulder clay is found. This red boulder clay contains small, angular limestone chunks. Local fens and bobs are present in the site, created by the action of ice and wind. South of the Bisschopsberg lies the wide erosion valley of Vecht and Meppelerdiep (here called Oude Vaart), also formed in the penultimate ice age. In the last ice age, the valleys of Wapserveensche Aa and Oude Vaart were filled with cover sand, on which peat could form during warmer periods. In this valley is a spur of the Natura 2000 area, the Uffelter Binnenveld.

Since the last ice age, man has exerted his influence in the area. Striking witnesses from the earliest history are two dolmens on the Havelterberg. During the Middle Ages, several villages flourished in the area, including Havelte, Uffelte, Wittelte and Holtinge. The ending 'elte' and the village name Holtinge indicate the occurrence of forest. From the end of the Middle Ages, with the rise of commercial sheep herds, an increasing part of the area turned into heathland. Forests were mainly found on the edges of the ash trees. Degradation of the landscape resulted in the creation of drifting sands, especially on the north side of the Havelterberg (Holtingerzand, Wester- and Oosterzand).

After the invention of artificial fertilizer, large parts of the then heathland were mined or planted with coniferous trees.

In the Second World War, the German troops built an airfield in the area with calcareous (red) boulder clay from the Havelterberg. It is precisely here that the most valuable heischral grasslands have developed. Since 1949, a large part of the area has been owned by the Ministry of Defence. The Havelterberg is owned by the Staatsbosbeheer, the northern part largely by Natuurmonumenten. Central to the area are many private properties. The Uffelter Binnenveld is owned and managed by the Drenthe Landscape.

The Brandeveen was created about 200 years ago by peat extraction, we read on the information board. The peat used to be in the open fields. A peat canal was dug to be able to drain the peat towards the Drentse Hoofdvaart. Now it is a beautiful large peat pond in the forest that you can walk around. The path over the small island, which lies in the middle of the Brandveen, is truly beautiful.

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