As a municipality, we would like to have natural, healthy and varied forest areas. To ensure this, we are going to convert part of our forest areas (the Papenvoort heath, the Vaarlese heath, the Collse and Refeling heath and Pastoorsmast) to 'natural forest'. A natural forest is a forest area that consists of a forest as natural as possible with many different native deciduous trees and shrubs (native to our country) and a high biodiversity. 

Work at Vaarlese Heide: felling of American oaks

In January 2023 we will start work on the forest areas on the Vaarlse Heide in Nuenen (north of the A270 freeway). A number of American oaks will be felled here in the coming winter. With this felling we want to reduce the share of exotic tree species. In addition, we will provide more light and structure in the forest and more opportunities for planting native deciduous tree species. In 2023-2024 we will plant young native deciduous tree species here.

Method of felling trees

The Bosgroep Zuid-Nederland(external link) selects the trees to be felled deliberately and very carefully. These trees will first receive an orange paint marking on the trunk. This will be done in January. The trees are expected to be cut down in the first quarter of 2023. During this felling, almost only American oaks will be cut down. Furthermore, non-native species will be reduced which encourages the native trees (native species). 

The felling of the trees is done with machines. Of course, when carrying out the felling work, careful attention is paid to the flora and fauna in the forest. Locations with specific natural values such as cavity trees, badger setts, raptor nests, ant hills are marked before the execution of the work so that they are preserved. In this way we work very carefully and purposefully on the development of a varied natural and recreationally attractive forest.

Safety first

In this type of work, it is very important that everyone pay close attention to safety. The machines also drive on the paths and roads and their size makes them dangerous. In connection with their own safety, it is important that visitors keep enough distance from the machines and certainly do not stand or walk in the turning circle or in the path of the machines. The wood piles must not be climbed, as logs may start to roll. Visitors are kindly requested to keep an appropriate distance from the work and machinery, and not to walk on closed paths.

What do visitors notice about this in the forest?

We are of course trying to keep the inconvenience to a minimum. However, visitors to the Vaarlese Heide forest area will undoubtedly notice that work is in progress. It is possible that paths will be more difficult to walk on during the work or will be temporarily closed. As soon as the work is finished, the paths will reopen and we will repair them if necessary. 

Provincial grant

For the Papenvoort heath and the Vaarlese heath, the Province of North Brabant has received a subsidy within the "Biodiversity in the Brabant Woodland 2022 - 2026 Implementation Program" for making the forests more species-rich, resilient and attractive. This will focus on more natural forests with high biodiversity and a high proportion of native deciduous tree species and shrubs. Some measures within this grant include increasing the structure in the forests, cutting down non-native tree species, planting native deciduous tree species, increasing the proportion of dead wood and spreading rock meal (ground mineral-rich rock) to reduce soil acidification. These measures will be implemented in the coming years.

Questions about the work?

If you have any questions about the work, please contact Bosgroep Zuid Nederland(external link) at (040) 20 66 360.