Flowering season 20172020-12-25T12:41:27+01:00

Flowering season 2017

info: in the southeastern 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.

1504, 2017

April 15th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 15th

After a rainy morning, nice weather again to experience spring in the wood. The fragile purple-blue flowers of the bluebells fill the fairy-tale wood more and more. Even then, many flower buds are waiting to emerge. The coming 10 days the wood will be nicer every day, with more flowering bluebells.
Please help us protect the wonderful but fragile vegetation by not walking through the flowers or walking up to a tree stem in the flowers to take pictures. Wild bluebells do not survive when you tread on them. Once crushed, they do not return on that place.

1404, 2017

April 14th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 14th

Free shuttle bus over the weekend of: 15-16-17 April; 22-23 April; 29-30 April – 1 May 2017
Vlasmarktdreef will be closed on these days from Nijvelsesteenweg. Parking 2, 3 and 8 can not be reached by car. Except from 9 am to 8 pm for groups coming by coach, and for drivers who have an identity document for the disabled.
The city of Halle provides a shuttle bus from 9 am to 8 pm. This bus takes you for free from Halle to the wild daffodils (P8 Achtdreven). It has two pick-up points: at the station of Halle and  at the end of the Welkomstlaan. More information here.
On Saturday 22 April, the yearly ‘bluebell jogging’ takes place. ‘Houtveld’ can not be used as a car park that whole day. The jogging itself takes place in the afternoon.
If you want to enjoy the wood in more peace and quiet, come on weekdays if you can.

1204, 2017

April 12th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 12th

Crisp weather, excellent for a brisk walk and to enjoy the colourful spring in the wood. The magical atmosphere is gradually coming to life, in particular when the sunlight caresses the bluebells and gives the wood a deep purple-blue touch as far as you can see. But still lots of bluebells are waiting for hotter weather to flower. Meanwhile the beautiful herb paris is flowering and bear’s garlic or ramsons is in bud.

1004, 2017

April 10th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 10th

The wood is gradually becoming a fairy-tale forest. Wood anemones bloom abundantly and on sunny days they form a dazzling white flower carpet. Where the sun reaches the flowers from the morning, wild bluebells colour the wood purple-blue, but even on these places, a lot of them are still in buds. On the edges of the valleys, where there is less sunlight, flowering is slower. There were a lot of beechnuts last autumn, and this can now be seen as there are lots of seedlings (= very young beeches) along the paths. They can be recognised by their two ‘elephant’s ears’, the first two leaves on the seedlings that look nothing like true beech leaves. Some young beeches are getting leaves already. Plant lovers will recognise Belgian gagea, one of the rarest plants in the wood.
Not good news: the wood has hardly started to flower, and the traces of photographers are visible: where they walked, sat or lied down on the flowers. How sad!

704, 2017

April 7th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 7th

There stays a great contrast between the valleys that are still completely green, and the plateaus where the bluebells start to colour the wood. But even on the plateaus, most bluebells are still in bud. Meanwhile, the wood anemones steal the show. Along the verges, greater stitchwort and garlic mustard are flowering. If you come to the wood only once, to see the bluebells, have some more patience. The spell of low temperatures forecasted for next week, may slow down the flowering in the valleys.

504, 2017

April 5th, 2017|Categories: Flowering season 2017|Comments Off on April 5th

Just like every year at the beginning of the flowering of the bluebells, there is a big difference between the plateaus where the sun can heat the soil the whole day, and the flanks of the valleys. The plateaus are slowly getting some purple green colour. The flanks of the valleys are still completely green. Most bluebells have to start flowering yet, also on the plateaus. The wood anemones, though, give the wood an enjoyable spring atmosphere. What is remarkable, is that some shrubs are getting leaves already.

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