The province of Gelderland will close parts of nature reserves in the Veluwe to holidaymakers during the breeding season. The Veluwe is divided into four zones. Along the edges there is room for recreation, catering and visitor centers. Other parts are closed off to give space to very vulnerable nature.
In part of that area it is still allowed to walk, cycle or ride horses outside the breeding season. Other pieces are really locked up. A number of country estates and defense sites have already been closed.
For example, parts of the Kootwijkerzand and the Hulshorsterzand are closed for several months a year. At Kootwijk, the area will be closed from March 15 to July 15, the Hulshorsterzand closes from March 15 to September.
drifting sand
This mainly concerns areas with drifting sand. “Drift sand is very special and vulnerable”, deputy Peter van ‘t Hoog tells Broadcasting Gelderland. “There are unique plant and animal species there that we have to be careful with.”
According to the province and nature managers, the closure is necessary to better protect nature. It suffers a lot from tourist crowds, nitrogen emissions and drought. Long-term research has shown that the dune pipit, the woodlark, the nightjar, the sand lizard and the adder, among others, are struggling or have already disappeared.
Residents not happy
Residents of Hulshorst are shocked that part of ‘their’ Hulshorsterzand will be locked during the breeding season. Wijnand Kooijmans of the neighborhood association is not happy to say the least. “We understand that nature is not going well, but the area that the province now wants to close is just way too big,” he told the newspaper. regional broadcaster.
Paul Milo van Kootwijk Vooruit calls the area that will be closed off significant. “We knew of course that this was coming, but we would have preferred a smaller closed area.”
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