Monastery Forest

Where the northern flank of the Zegelaarbeek valley is mostly open and will remain so, the southern flank mainly consists of forest. The soil transitions here over a short distance from wet along the Zegelaarbeek to dry in the southern part of the Kloosterbos. In the wet area, you will find forests with spring flowers such as spotted lungwort, wood anemone, slender primrose, and wood violets. The dry section is formed by an acidic oak-beech forest.

Due to its high biological value, the forest on the southern flank will be enhanced. Natuurpunt Zwalmvallei managed to create about 6 hectares of forest around the Kloosterbos in less than 10 years.

Frans De Potter and Jan Broeckaert wrote in their 'History of the municipalities of the province of East Flanders' about St. Maria Oudenhove (published in 1900): 'There used to be many forests here. The Kloosterbos belonged to the Carthusians of St. Martens-Lierde, who gradually transitioned to farming and turned it into arable land. ... Currently, one can still find 4 small forests here.'

Natuurpunt Zwalmvallei