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The Stippelberg is a former heath land. Between 1893-1935 this area was cultivated and were completely planted with Scots pines. Natuurmonumenten nowadays is slowly re-creating this forest into a natural forest. The Stippelberg is cut at an oblique angle caused by a fault, a side vein of the Peel Fault. This fault can be recognized by the visible differences in altitude which is created by movement between two plates. Westward of this fault lie old wandering inland dunes called ´stippels´. The reserve thanks its name to these dunes. |
The area is managed by vereniging Natuurmonumenten. The area belongs, together with the Beestenveld in het north and the Nederheide in the south, to the largest contiguous forest complex in North Brabant.
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A large wildlife swamp with bell-heather and ling heather fields, alternating with peat pools and pits originating from human digging activities. The groundwater level is now brought back to normal, so that the most important creator of peat –bog moss– can grow again. Since 1993 the area is designated as protected wetland. A wetland is an international recognized breeding, wintering and staging area for several bird species. In the varied landscape of these areas of bogs, marshland, open heathlands, plains, woods and sand ridges grow many notable plants. |
The Peelmuseum in America shows the living conditions during the peat cutting of De Peel. |
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The nature reserves in ‘De Peel’ are the remains of an enormous peat moor area. This peat moor was never extracted, so what is left is unspoilt nature with great lakes, heath land, plains with bog plants and sand ridges. Boardwalks ('knuppelpaden') in De Peel will lead you safely through the bogs without getting your feet muddy or soaked. National Park De Groote Peel is a protected area, Staatsbosbeheer manages the natuur reserve. The Mijl op Zeven Visitor Centre, built to be ecologically sound, is the main entrance to De Groote Peel National Park. |
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Mijl op Zeven is open all year round, Tuesday - Sunday from 10.00 to 17.00, is wheelchair-accessible and has toilets for the disabled. Many different species of birds live in the Groote Peel. That is why access to the park is limited from 15 March till 15 July, during the nesting season. During the migration season, from October 15th until December 1st, De Groote Peel is closed as the park is a resting/transit area for many migratory birds. The marked trails and a part of the area on the east side remain open to the public.
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The Strabrechtse heide takes its name from the hamlet Strabrecht under Heeze. 'Stra' means develop new ground near the road and 'Brecht' (or Brink) means clearing in the woods. It is a beautiful nature reserve which consists of moorland in the west that passes into the moist valley of the Kleine Dommel. Heather dominates the land of the Strabrechtse Heide. This is the largest heath area of North Brabant. From mid August vast plains turn purple as 'ling' or common heather comes into flower. Today sheep farming continue to maintain the landscape. The sheep are helpful for pruning the heather and keeping it clear from grass and young shrub or tree seedlings. The sheepfold is located on 'De Plaetse', a small replica of a heath village. |
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The Leenderbos and Groote Heide form a contiguous forest and heathland area between Einhoven and Achel in Belgium. In Leenderbos, which mainly consists of softwood, are four pools with heathlands. Also in the Groote Heide we will find a number of pools. In the east of the area streams the river Strijper Aa, in the west the river Tongelreep, where they flow out in the river Dommel in Eindhoven.
It is a Natura 2000 area and therefore, together with nature reserve Malpie and the Plateaux, part of an European network of protected areas.
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