April 15th

The fairy-tale atmosphere has started in the wood, with the young, fresh, translucent green leaves of the low beeches over the purple blue carpet of the wild bluebells. On the plateaus there are a lot of bluebells that give this purple blue colour. And there are quite some bluebells on the flanks getting there as well. Every day is different in the woods now. Let us hope the high beeches do not form their leaves before all the bluebells in the valleys are in bloom. The wood anemones are still beautiful, but they have suffered from the recent showers. This is the time to enjoy in the wood. Come on a sunny day in the week rather than at a busy weekend. The lights and sounds of the sun, the bluebells and the young beech leaves will create a unique experience for at least another 10 days

As forecasted, the fresher days slow down the evolution of the bloom. There are more blooming bluebells every days. The flanks of the valleys as well are slowly changing from green to purple blue. But the weather forecast isn’t very promising, no sun nor warm temperatures. Fortunately we can enjoy the current white-blue play of colours thanks to the anemones and the bluebells. The birds are in full spring mood. The most beautiful period of the bluebells is yet to come. The anemones are at their most beautiful. We can enjoy them for some more days, if there aren’t too many showers the next days.

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.

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.