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.
Some blooming daffodils can still be found here and there. The bloom of the anemones is at its most beautiful. There are more flowering bluebells every day and the wood is getting more and more purple. In the late afternoon they send out a nice smell in the woods. Due to the higher temperature the flanks and valleys are also slowly getting a light purple-blue colour. It is only on the plateaus that the deep blue purple carpet of flowers starts to be seen. The first beech leaves appear on the dominated (low) trees. Hopefully this does not go too fast, so that the hyacinths in the valleys get a chance to all get in full bloom first. If you can, see all this beauty during the week, it is much quieter in the woods then.
Sun and lots of flowering wood anemones, a marvellous combination that brings a real spring atmosphere into the forest, great to walk and enjoy. The higher temperature acts as a stimulus to the hyacinths. On the plateaus which the sun reaches more easily than the valleys, beside the snowy carpet of anemones, a blue violet colour of bluebells is appearing. It’s not the deep blue purple carpet yet, but the typical fairytale starts spreading in the forest.
The wild daffodils have spoiled us this year with a long beautiful bloom! They will stay beautiful until the next weekend. Meanwhile moschatel blossoms as well, it is one of the least conspicuous spring bloomers, with small green flowers with a typical structure of inflorescence resembling a dice. The anemones are at their most beautiful now. On the slopes and in the valleys the bloom of the hyacinths has yet to begin, but on some plateaus where the sun can warm the soil, a more intense violet-blue colour gradually appears. There are plenty of spring flowers to enjoy: celandine, wild daffodils, anemones and bluebells. However, if you come especially for the fairytale atmosphere with the wild hyacinths, it is better to wait some time still. The forest is quieter during the week than at weekends. If you come by car: please take into account the changed traffic conditions. Note to photographers and filmmakers: the use of drones is not allowed in the forest.
The wood anemones are now blooming beautifully.
Some plateaus start having a light purple colour, signalling the very beginning of the fairy-like period. Many parts of the forest with wild hyacinths, especially in the valleys, however, are still completely green.
Wild daffodils have already spoiled the visitors with their beautiful large yellow flowers for over seven weeks. The yellow star-shaped flowers of celandine colours the sunny sides of the paths. The most notable spring flower at this time is the wood Anemone. On sunny days, large parts of the forest seem covered under a carpet of white stars. The beautiful time with flowering anemones is definitely worth a visit to the woods. Every sunny day you can enjoy spring in the forest.
Every day more purple blue flowers of wild hyacinths are opening. But they are still too few of them to colour the forest purple.
The wild daffodils still bloom beautifully. Some of the plants have been in bloom for more than a month, so flowers begin to wilt. But in the meantime, the wood anemones are ready to fill large parts of the forest floor with white stars on sunny days. Every day there are more blooming bluebells. The higher temperature at the weekend will further stimulate the bloom, but it’s too early for a full blue forest. Let us first enjoy the beautiful bloom of the wood anemones.
Please note: from Monday 4 April the road works on the Nijvelsesteenweg start. Click here for information about the accessibility of the forest during the works.