Natuurpunt Ham nature reserves

Management of our nature reserves

In nature reserve De Rammelaars we examined the grassland vegetation in spring to evaluate the effect of management of the past five year. The grazing block was moved and resized to avoid grazing on the more valuable grasslands, We now only mow and make hay from the grasslands. The hiking trails were adapted to separate walkers from horses. Two ponds with raised dikes were transformed into natural forest and a pool for amphibians. Exotic plants were removed and the original relief of the plot restored. We repaired walking trails. The heavy rains this year were very welcome, but of course make the hiking trails quite muddy. This rain and wetness also prevented mowing of our wetter grasslands. The management team hayed the northern drier grasslands. We further removed exotic species like Japanese knotweed, bamboo and American bird cherry. Slib was partially removed from the pond near the nature house.

For Veldhovenheide reserve we consulted with the municipality for barriers to be placed on access roads, to ban quad bikes and motocross riders from the area.

For bother nature reserves we developed a visitors and access plan, new hiking maps, flyers and information boards.

Activities

In spring two treasure hunts were set out in De Rammelaars, that hikers could do during April and May. Eighteen winners received a prize. The annual dew walk with breakfast was held at the end of May, when activities could be organized again. The night of darkness brought again many visitors for a torchlight walk, pancakes and campfire.

Work with local schools

Students of the Technical Institute St-Paulus in Mol visited for a days of walking, nature management and nature study. Accompanied by Educational Nature Management Limburg and some of our volunteers, they removed mown grass from wetlandbgrassland. With the help of JNM Zandland we removed regrowth of spork and willos from a pond during the Day of Nature. 

The Nature house

Due to Covid, activitites in the Natuur.huis were limited. Instead we focussed on repairs and improvements. A pellet stove, roller shutter and outdoor lights were installed. After burglary attempts windows and shutters had to be repaired. The barn was further secured to avoid break-ins in future.