It was a wet Wednesday, but I was determined to use my camera gear and capture some images. In my search for a new hobby, I always came back to photography. Therefore, it was time to invest some time in this hobby.

The location I prefer to visit is Hageven. This is the second time I want to visit Hageven. The Plateaux-Hageven is an international nature reserve managed by the Dutch association Natuurmonumenten and the Flemish Natuurpunt in Natuurgrenspark De Groote Heide. The reserve spans over 350 hectares in the Dutch municipalities of Bergeijk and Valkenswaard, and over 150 hectares in the Belgian municipalities of Neerpelt and Lommel.

The Plateaux is comprised of liquid meadows along the Dommel river, planted with poplars. These meadows were created from 1847 onwards and were irrigated with calcareous water from the Kempen Canal to be used as hay land. The hay was transported by boat through a 3 km long canal, which had a high bridge to allow highly loaded ships to pass and a small lock to bridge the 3-metre drop. The higher parts of the Plateaux consist of coniferous forest and heathland. De Plateaux is part of the Natura 2000 area ‘Leenderbos, Groote Heide & De Plateaux’, along with Leenderbos and Groote Heide, due to the presence of the crested newt. In addition to fens, sand-drift areas have also been restored.

In 1978, the plateaux became the subject of a notorious illegal reclamation affair. The owner at the time had a large number of cattle and decided to clear and fertilise a piece of heathland to grow maize, in order to get rid of manure and feed the cattle. After the case went to court, the owner was forced to divest the area, and the land became the property of Natuurmonumenten. Jan Bartels was put in charge of managing the land, as well as the nearby Cartier heath near Hapert. He gained the necessary experience in heathland management there. This knowledge was used to repair the damage, among other things.

 

In 1983, the Natuurmonumenten Association restored 13 hectares of heathland. Jan Bartels’ work also contributed to the recovery of heathland on the Plateaux. The meadows were created during Napoleon’s time to provide grass for his army’s horses. Irrigation involved water flowing over the grasslands in an intricate ditch system. The water in this area originates from the Belgian Meuse-Scheldt Canal, which is rich in lime and minerals. This unique composition allows for the growth of rare plants such as the autumn crocus. The canal’s water was supplied to the site through a feeder canal, which was deemed vital and subsequently purchased by Natuurmonumenten. This acquisition marked the first time that Natuurmonumenten had bought land outside of the Netherlands.

The nature reserve offers stunning views and an abundance of birdlife for photography. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, I managed to capture some images during my 7-kilometer hike.

You will recognise the following birds; the goldfinch, wood pigeon, chaffinch, great tit, robin and chaffinch. But one of the best pictures I found was photographing the Cormorants. I observed a substantial nest capturing the Limburg breeze.

Although I was unable to photograph the kingfisher, the Hageven remains a beautiful domain with a variety of stunning birds. Here are a few additional photos showcasing different angles of the 150-hectare site. The beautiful landscape and the heather are the main focus.

I walked through the heather for miles, and the ground was very wet. However, the experience of hearing the birds singing while taking a breath of fresh air made this hiking adventure unforgettable.

Below are additional images featuring In the images, you can see a landmark as we are near the border of the Netherlands and Belgium.

The images capture the stunning landscape and its birds, and reveal more to come. Amongst the heather, Galloway deer graze. The Galloway cattle, named after the Scottish county of the same name, is a polled beef breed with excellent meat quality that was selected several hundred years ago. Its long, wavy hair consists of a rough outer coat and a softer inner coat, providing ideal protection against wind and rain. The cows do not have horns, and their auricles are equipped with long hairs.

The Galloway calf is well-suited to outdoor life and requires minimal care. It does not require assistance during calving and does not need to be milked. Galloways have a diverse grazing behaviour, consuming not only (coarse) grasses but also brambles, branches, and twigs. This varied diet contributes to an increase in landscape diversity.

The Galloway caught our attention. However, one thing that caught my attention was the beautiful wooden bridge, which has been photographed by many others. I asked myself why I hadn’t caught it myself.

What a hike it has been. I spent 7 kilometers in the nature reserve, following the trails of the deer for a large part of the way. It always fills me with a sense of freedom.
I was fortunate to have a dry afternoon, so I did not get wet when I finished my work.

I returned home experiencing discomfort. Carrying more than 25 kilograms of Canon and Leica gear is too much. I need to review this and find a better way to do it. However, as I continue to work, I gain more knowledge. It seems that this is what life is all about – striving for a perfect balance.

Anything to be happy!

 

Thank you