Wolvenberg

Wolvenberg has emerged on the remnants of the former fortifications, which are still tangibly present. These are remains of the former barracks. Nature has taken over the remnants of the fortress. After the works of the Ring, they have spontaneously grown over. The oldest walls are 130 years old. Typical for this area are the differences in height. These arise from the former military construction. The pond (also referred to as the 'lost water') is an unfilled part of the fortress ditch, of which approximately 120 meters has been preserved. This is fed by groundwater. The water level is lower than the level of the Ring. The plants and animals currently living in Wolvenberg are species that also occurred in the originally marshy area. The remains of the military buildings provide additional habitat for, among others, bats and wall ferns. The long list of species that have been observed in Wolvenberg (including Eurasian sparrowhawk, common buzzard, kestrel, tree falcon, various types of woodpeckers, butterflies, dragonflies, and orchids, and more than 200 other plant species) shows that it is not an ordinary urban biotope. Wolvenberg serves as a habitat, but also as a stepping stone and connectivity zone for the dispersion of species. The entire landscape of the Groene Bedding plays a special ecologically connecting role between all other landscapes in Antwerp. Typically, it combines grasslands and forested parts. There are species to be found for both habitats, such as rapunzelbell, field rush, and tuberous bittercress for the grassy areas and cuckoo flower in more wooded sections.

Groenplan Stad Antwerpen