Heath reserve Kruisheide

The Kruisheide nature reserve is a 5 ha remnant of what was once the "Keerberghen Heyde": a part of the heathland that at the end of the 18th century stretched on the drifting sand ridges from Baal over Tremelo, Keerbergen and Rijmenam to Bonheiden. A region that is landscaped as the traditional landscape 'Land van Keerbergen'. In the past, the original natural landscape, the oak-birch forest on nutrient-poor sandy soil, was cleared for sheep to graze: this is how the heathlands were created.

Kruisheide was purchased by the municipality in 1985 and received a protected status as a nature reserve. One third of the 5 ha consists of forest of Scots pine in which the sparrowhawk breeds, two thirds is open heath. These semi-natural landscapes are today maintained by management works (by Natuurpunt). The area is dry: you will find bush heath. Locally, sinuous smele causes grazing. There are not many animal species on the heath, but those that live there are characteristic. Locusts, field crickets and various species of butterflies, such as the heather blue, find a suitable biotope. No less than 38 wasp and 41 bee species (sand bees) live here. Including some species that have become rare in Flanders. Take a break here, take a walk through the area and be sure to come back in August when the heather blooms and Kruisheide turns purple, or on a summer evening to enjoy a cricket concert.

Management measures consist of mowing, weeding and removing tree storage. In addition, typical small heath sheep have been grazing there since 2011, which also increase the historical landscape value. In order not to disturb the sheep, dogs must be kept on a leash.

Bart Denayer