St. Anne's Forest

The location of the forest was used by the U.S. Army just after World War II. After the surrender of Germany, they set up a 'waiting camp': Tophat. That camp consisted of 2500 tents, 500 buildings and even cinemas. The camp was divided into 26 blocks. Among other things, the straight avenues through the current forest still refer to the former blocks. Here and there in the forest you can still find remains of Tophat. After the camp was no longer in use, the area was planted with mainly Canada poplars. The eastern part has more variation with beech, American oak and horse chestnut. The Sint-Annabos is a relatively recent forest in which a spontaneous rejuvenation is now starting to occur. It is the habitat of, among others, the common long-eared bat and the shaggy pipistrelle. Large beetle orchid can be found in the undergrowth. However, this natural process threatens to be halted if the Sint-Annabos is cleared in connection with a construction site for a new tunnel under the Scheldt. Afterwards, a new forest will be planted with a greater variety of vegetation and habitats, but the natural diversity of species that results from a natural forest evolution will have to be rebuilt.

Groenplan Stad Antwerpen