Nature
Nature Reserve 'Damse Stadswallen', Damme
Nature Reserve 'Romboutswerve', Damme-Oostkerke
Nature reserve Polder of Saint-Donatian, Hoeke
Provincial domain 'Fort van Beieren', Koolkerke
Nature Reserve Platte Kreek, Lapscheure
Nature Reserve Blauwe Sluis, Lapscheure
Nature area 'Burnt Fort', Oostkerke
Botanical garden Ryckevelde, Sijsele
Nature Reserve 'Damse Stadswallen', Damme
The major part of this nature reserve, measuring 44 hectares, is situated on the old ramparts of Damme. The canals of this system for the town's defence have developed into reedland, boggy wood and meadow land. Their botanical value is unique with species such as the buckler fern and the gray-crested shield fern. In the pond behind the Schellemolen little grebes and coots brood. The adjacent vast pastures are an important stop for the migrant geese during the winter half-year. In spring the black-tailed godwit and the lapwing search for a brooding place.
Nature Reserve 'Romboutswerve', Damme-Oostkerke
This pasture reserve, where hunting is forbidden, is managed by "De Wielewaal v.z.w.". It is visited by migratory and hibernating white-fronted geese, pink-footed geese, wigeons and ruffs. Among the many species of birds which brood here, there is the lapwing, the black-tailed godwit, the shoveler and the oyster catcher. Especially the transition area between pastureland and ditches abounds in botanical species: rushes, bul rushes, sedges, strawberry clover, tubular water-dropwort and mars-marigold. In and around the ditches and pools reed and flowering rush are found. In autumn the ferny azolla colours the water surface of the pools red.
Nature Reserve Polder of Saint-Donatian, Hoeke
This nature reserve is a typical polder landscape. Bordering on the Kleiputten (Clay pits) of the old Saint Donaas Fort this area alternates low-lying damp meadows and high-lying grasslands.
The polder region is crossed by the historic Cantelmo line and by the Hoeke canal. The rich reed beds of these watercourses and the reed marsh of the old Saint Donaas Fort ensure this area is not only relevant to all kinds of meadow birds but also provides a biotope for reed bed birds. On the plots owned by Natuurpunt a number of pools were built and hedges planted, landscape elements that restore the small scale and richness of the agricultural area of yesteryear.
Provincial domain 'Fort van Beieren', Koolkerke
At the beginning of the 18th century, Maximilian-Emmanuel of Bavaria, governor of the Southern or Spanish Netherlands, had a fort built in Koolkerke which was named after him. Later this bulwark lost its purpose and now it is a provincial park.
Nature Reserve 'Platte Kreek', Lapscheure
The banks and the near surroundings of the Platte Kreek and the brook Zevengemeten in Lapscheure have a rich nature and land-scape. Lapwing, coot and avocet are the regular summer birds. In spring the redshank, the greenshank and the green sandpiper sojourn here.
Nature Reserve Blauwe Sluis, Lapscheure
At the end of the 16th century, the Dutch cut the dyke near Lapscheure. The insurging water eroded out a channel which is now called "Lapscheurse Gat". Between 1746 and 1843 the Blauwe Sluis controlled the drainage of the Polders around the "Lapscheurse Gat". After the cutting of the "Lapscheurse Gat" the drainage was taken over by the Leopold Canal.
Nature area 'Burnt Fort', Oostkerke
This redoubt or small defence was built during the War of the Spanish Succession in the 2nd half of 1703. The Burnt Fort was built to the north of the Romboutswerve dyke in the place where there was a sag pipe or syphon under the dyke. This allowed to flood the area to the south of the dyke and tot the north of the Verse Vaart. The redoubt was of the classical type consisting of a moat, an outer wall and a defence wall. The traces of the burnt clay on the ground indicate that the wooden watchtower inside the fort was destroyed by fire.
What still remains of the fort is a square meadow with a side of 88 metres. The dyke of the Schipdonk canal offers the best view of this fort.
In the relics of the former rampart moat we find interesting marsh vegetation with amongst others common cat-tail, branched bur-reed, flowering rush and nodding bur-marigold. In the spring this biotope welcomes numerous amphibians.
The common toad as well as the brown and green frog are very common at this time of year. They go in search of shallow, stagnant water in which to lay their eggs. The small smooth newt also finds a suitable environment between the water plants.
Domain Ryckevelde, Sijsele
The Ryckevelde Park, whose woods are managed by ANIMAL "Bos en Groen", lies on the arid, sandy soil to the south of the Zwin Region. "Bos en Groen", a branch service of the Flemish Community, works to establish an enduring combination of recreation, landscape, ecology and economy. In the military domain, which is partially open to the public during weekends, lies the heath reserve called "Schobbejakshoogte".
Botanical garden, Sijsele
This ecological botanical garden focuses on the landscape components typical of the poor sandy soil. A path of well over 1 kilometre, accessible to wheelchair users too, takes you along 40 stops, provided with all the information necessary, also in braille. This knowledge will help you observe and taste, smell and feel the plants which live in the coniferous and deciduous woods, the dry heathland and other biotopes in the region.
