IVN Nature Walk Vuchtpolder

On Sunday 8th March, the nature guides of IVN Mark & Donge, in collaboration with Kinderboerderij Parkhoeve and the Working Group Lage Vuchtpolder, will organise a walk through the polder and over the dikes. 

History of the Vruchtpolder 
The Vuchtpolder must once have been a wet area, as both the higher and lower parts were called Vucht, an old form of moisture. In times of war, this wetness was gratefully exploited: with a single intervention, the land was flooded, making it impassable for heavy artillery and un-drivable for boats. The newly constructed redoubts still recall the besieging of Breda in 1624/1625. 

The Lage Vuchtpolder was not suitable for habitation or farming. It was so marshy that the meadows, the beemden, could only be used as hay meadows or pastures. Waterfowl and waders thrived here. To acquire more farmland, parts of the polder have been raised with sand from 1930 onwards. 

The present and the future 
This has now been reversed, and efforts are being made to increase water saturation and restore nature. Over the coming years, under the instruction of and in collaboration with Staatsbosbeheer, the nature will be managed by Emiel Anssems from the biological nature farm Heining & Hoef. Wild red cattle have been introduced to graze the area. It is hoped that ground-nesting birds will find the area again. 

About the walk
At this time of year, it remains a surprise what can be seen in the polder. Sometimes winter visitors like barnacle geese or pink-footed geese are still present, but early signs of spring can also already be visible. Last year, around this time, black-tailed godwits and turnstones were seen. Species such as grey herons, knob-billed swans, and reed buntings are present here throughout the year.

The walk is organised in collaboration with Kinderboerderij Parkhoeve and the Working Group Lage Vuchtpolder. Organic farmer Emiel Anssems and landscape architect Hans van Engen are involved in the event.

Registration is open until the day of the walk. After registering, you will receive the exact starting location