De Poppelaer – Noenheuvel

Gateway to the Brechtse Heide

De Poppelaer wood is the perfect base for a walk through the landscape of the Brechtse Heide. Here you will find forests, sand tracks, meres and farmland. Hike through this 1,700 hectare protected nature reserve, which extends across the municipalities of Brecht, Schilde, Malle and Zoersel. One striking element in the flat landscape is the Cistercian abbey of Onze-Lieve Vrouw van Nazareth, popularly known as the Trappist abbey.

The role of Kempens Landschap
Our organisation bought the forest of De Poppelaer in 1999 as a buffer zone for and gateway to the protected nature reserve. In accordance with a landscape management plan, four different works have already been carried out here. Since 2007, wooded parcels in Noenheuvel have been purchased systematically. In 2013, several dilapidated weekend cottages in Noenheuvel were razed so that the natural landscape could be restored.