Autumn excursion to the Wouwse Plantage

IVN-Brabantse Wal is organising an excursion through the northern part of the ‘ landgoed Wouwse Plantage ’.

We are focusing in particular on the area around the Bleekloop watercourse, which runs right through the estate and, via Golf WP, eventually flows into the former moer canal, the Zoom. Alongside this focus, considerable attention is also being paid to beech trees, which are struggling particularly badly here and elsewhere due to the recent hot summers.

We follow a new route through the woods. We notice that the beech tree is easily distinguished by its smooth-edged leaves, its very dense canopy, the smooth appearance of its trunk and, of course, its fruits – the well-known beech nuts. Because the canopy is so dense, the vegetation beneath the foliage is very limited. We discuss the phenomenon of sunscald, also known as bark scorch. Beech trees have a thin bark, which is highly sensitive to (intense) sunlight.