Let’s celebrate nature conservation! March through the Sonian Forest and walks on the Eco duct for Natura 2000 with festive drink.

On May 21 we celebrate the annual European Natura 2000 Day. This year’s edition will be special because it is 30 years since the European Habitat Directive and the LIFE programme were adopted. On top of that, we will be celebrating the 5th anniversary of the recognition of the integral forest reserves of the Sonian Forest as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the perfect moment to highlight the exceptional nature of the Sonian Forest and its protection by programmes such as UNESCO, LIFE and Natura 2000.

Several activities will give you the opportunity to discover this exceptional nature in a fun way, to meet and exchange ideas with the stakeholders of the forest (partners, managers, forestry staff, local residents, …).

March through the Sonian Forest for Natura 2000

The walk starts from Boitsfort and lead you through the UNESCO forest reserves – the best protected areas of the forest – to Groenendaal.

In the forest reserves, you will learn about the beautiful and exceptional nature, the diverse fauna and flora of the Sonian Forest and how it is possible – with the help of various programmes – to ensure that this nature is protected.

Eco duct walks in Groenendaal

In Groenendaal, the guides of Natuurgroepering Zonienwoud (NGZ) offer a walk through the largest deciduous forest in Belgium to the “Eco duct of Groenendaal”. During this walk you will learn more about the fragmentation of the Sonian Forest and what can be done about it. But we also look at the role of the Sonian Forest in the whole of the Brabantse Wouden, the national park in the making that will be a great reinforcement for the Natura 2000 network.

Festive drink at Groenendaal

All walks converge and end at the Groenendaal Forest Museum (Bosmuseum Jan van Ruusbroec), where we end the day with a festive drink around 4 pm !

Participation is free of charge, but registration is necessary

Practical details

March starting in Boitsfort

Departure: 13:45 – Boitsfort Train station

(Arrival S8 train from Brussels: 13:11 – Arrival S8 train from Ottignies: 13:40 – Arrival Tram 8: every 15 minutes)

End with a festive drink in Groenendaal: 16:00

Return to the starting point by train,at your own responsibility:

SNCB: S8 Groenendaal to Brussels at 17:36 (Arrival at Boitsfort at 17:40) / S8 Groenendaal to Ottignies at 17:22

Click here for the timetables of SNCB.

Interventions are alternately in French, Dutch and English. Walking distance +- 7,5 km

Ecoduct walks in Groenendaal by Natuurgroepering Zoniënwoud (NGZ)

Five departures are offered, all starting and ending at the Jan van Ruusbroec Forest Museum in Groenendaal (Duboislaan 2, 1560 Hoeilaart):

at 9.30 am, at 10 am, at 10.30 am, at 2 pm and at 2.30 pm.

The participants of the walks departing at 2 pm and at 2.30 pm can also enjoy a free drink afterwards at the Forest Museum.

The walks are conducted in Dutch, last about 2:30 and the walking distance is about 5km.

Registration

Participation is free of charge, but registration is necessary via this link.

Attention, for the Eco duct walks the number of participants is limited: 25 per walk.

These activities are organized in cooperation with:

Natuurgroepering Zoniënwoud, La Hulpe Environnement, Natuurpunt Academie, Agentschap voor Natuur & Bos, Leefmilieu Brussel, Département de la Nature et des Forêts.