Flowering season 2016
info: in the northern part of the forest, called ‘Keldergat’, trees have been felled this year (wood extraction). Trunks and crowns are lying in various places in that part of the forest and there are piles of firewood along the trails. From 1 March to 30 June however, the wood extraction stops (“schoon” time) and the loggers are not allowed to continue their work. “Schoon” time comes from the German “Schonen” meaning ‘save’, ‘protect’. The “schoon” period helps to protect the vegetation (spring flowers), to ‘save’ and not to disturb the nesting birds.
Permission for professional photo shoots, with or without models, or film recordings must be requested via the box office. In the Hallerbos you must always stay on the paths, also when taking pictures and filming. The soil and vegetation are fragile and very sensitive to trampling. The use of drones is not allowed in the forest.
A wonderful day in the forest thanks to the sun and the clouds. The sun can still reach the bluebells through the canopy and offers an enchanting sight of different shades of purple. The slopes and the valleys as well, are beautifully in bloom now. The canopy gets denser by the day, as there are more and more leaves. The forecasted cold temperatures for the coming days may slow down the further coming into leaves of the trees. That leaves some more days to enjoy the fairylike spring.
An unexpectedly sunny, brilliant day. The numerous bluebells now form a deep purple blue flower carpet. The sun, the passing clouds and the shadow of the young beech leaves constantly bring changes in the colour of the flowers. The translucent green leaves start forming a canopy above the bluebells, but still a few days remain to enjoy this wonderful spring event.
Regrettably, some careless visitors keep going off the paths, and go between the flowers and sneak in the wood to take pictures. This is extremely harmful, the wood suffers irreversible damage. The flowers are lost forever on those places.
A message to the photographer that left his black camera bag with materials, and a tripod: they were brought in by an honest finder.
Also in the subdued light from a clouded sun, the wood is mesmerising. The high trees get more and more leaves every day. It stays worthwhile to plan a visit to the wood. Unfortunately, the weather forecast is not rosy for the coming days. The slopes are turning purple blue as well. Tomorrow afternoon there is the yearly ‘bluebell jogging’. The start and finish are outside the forest.
The second day of pure enjoyment of the beautiful spring colours from sunrise to sunset. The sunlight filters through the fragile young beech leaves and illuminates them. When the sunlight hits the bluebells directly, they seem light purple; in the shadow of a tree that has some leaves or when a cloud passes before the sun, they are deep purple blue. The bluebells enthral the walkers with their wonderful scent. The wood is at its most beautiful and excites all senses, it is hard to describe, better to come and experience this live. Due to today’s warmth, the trees will have a lot of new leaves tomorrow. Unfortunately the weather forecast is quite grim just when the wood is so magnificent.
These are the most beautiful days in the wood. Wonderful weather to walk and to enjoy the magnificent intense colours. Direct sunlight, or shade on the bluebells changes them from light purple to intense dark blue purplish. The translucent, fragile green beech leaves start to hide the grey beech stems on the plateaus and start to fill the sky above the carpet of flowers. From the late afternoon, the air is full of a wonderful scent of flowers.
Just a few high beeches are coming into leaf yet, and even then, it are small leaves. That seems promising for the next days and the next week. Unfortunately the weather forecast for the weekend is not that bright. Every sunny day is a day to enjoy the purplish blue and translucent green spring colours in the wood, it is simply incredible that only two colours can bring such enchantment. On some places, fern leaves are unfolding between the flowers.
Let us hope that all visitors stay on the paths. This fairytale forest is so much more beautiful without trampled flowers and barren patches from people that sneaked their way into the forest.