Grazing

This location is part of the "Flora & Fauna in Pauwels" cycling route.

A large herd of Scottish Highlanders is being used to graze the area at Huis ter Heide Nature Preserve. The cattle keep the landscape of Huis ter Heide open, ensuring that plants that need such open, light conditions can grow well. If instead of this grazing, mowing were used, all plants would be cut equally short. Scottish highlanders eat only the plants and shrubs they like and thus provide a lot of variation in the vegetation. That variety, in turn, is important for bird species such as the endangered skylark and wheatear, among others. In addition, grazing by the highlanders causes much less stress to animals living in the area and the animals are beautiful to look at!