Valleigebied Kampenhout

'De Groene Vallei' (Green Valley) is a green oasis between Brussels, Mechelen and Leuven. Natuurpunt manages more than 500 hectares of protected nature and there are already 50 km of hiking trails. To further explore the beautiful Green Valley area, the Green Valley visitor center is an ideal base.

One of the areas nearby is the Floordambos. The Floordambos extends on the border of Vilvoorde, Machelen and Steenokkerzeel. The wet, calcareous soil makes it an extremely valuable area. It is a 7 hectare mixed, swampy deciduous forest, especially valuable in terms of plants and insects. The forest has been severely fragmented in recent decades, mainly due to the construction of the Brussels-Antwerp motorway.

The alternation of calcareous soils, bubbling water and drier areas make the Floordam forest a habitat for many different types of plants such as wood broom, wild garlic, spotted arum and wood orchid. Various animals such as polecats and buzzards also find their place there.
Lime is a mineral that many plant species respond to. You will not find lime-avoiding species such as sundew or peat fluff here. In the Floordambos you will find scaly sedge and yellow heart on the centrally located grassland. The lime flora develops best there because there is a lot of light.

Grosbeak also thrives here. The typical scarlet-red fruits in the shape of a cardinal's headdress stand out in autumn. You will find plenty of snails here, especially the vineyard snail. It is the largest European snail. The animals need the lime in the soil to make their house.
On the higher part on the side of the golf course you will also find acidic plant species that are not intended for lime, such as false sage. It is one of the few lip florets with an upper lip missing.

Click here for more information about De Groene Vallei in 'Valleigebied Kampenhout' area!

Click here to go to the Bioblitz page of this Natura 2000 area.

Click here to install Obsidentify.

Photo: Reinhardt Strubbe (ANB)