Famous Hallerbos forest to undergo further expansion

The Hallerbos, the forest famous for its carpets of bluebells during the spring, is to be expanded by half a hectare, according to the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests which will plant 400 new trees and bushes in a new section the size of a football field.

This follows on from the last expansion a few years ago when the forest was enlarged by about 10 hectares.

The new trees, which will include, among others, oaks, hawthorns and wild plum trees, will be planted on farmland adjacent to the forest. In a few years, these new trees should have reached a height of one metre and will already bear beautiful leaves and flowers.

"People will be able to enjoy this new corner of nature quite quickly," said Patrick Huvenne, director of the Flemish Agency for Nature and Forests.

This expansion is part of a wider plan to connect the woods of Hal, Lembeek and Maasdal. The Hallerbos has already grown by 10% in the last 20 years, the equivalent of 1,000 football fields. Four additional hectares of forest will be added in the coming years.