Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park

Geschiedenis

Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park is a national park in the Dutch province of Overijssel, founded in 2004. The park is mainly managed by Staatsbosbeheer, Natuurmonumenten and the water company Vitens. In addition, several small particular owners are involved in the management, as well as regional communities and stakeholders.Landscape and historyThe Sallandse heuvelrug is a moraine, created in the one but last glaciation, Saalien, 150.000 years ago. During the Holocene forests started to develop, but after the growth of the human population, these forests had been cut. From the Middle Ages onwards the area was used for grazing by sheep and goat, and the upper layer of the soil was removed to use it as fertilizer for the crop fields. In this period, the area became a heathland because of sand-drifting. In the beginning of the 20th century the state started forestry programms, to prevent this erosion and to produce pine wood. The area is well known for its scenery because of its relatively large heathlands.Vegetation and wildlifeMost characteristic features of the national park are the relief and the heath lands. Cranberry growths in large numbers. We also find the last Dutch population of the black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), European nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeusnightjar), and several lizard species, such as the viviparous lizard (Zootoca vivipara).