Strabrechtse Heide
Encyclopedia
The Strabrechtse Heide is a natural heathland
area about 1500 ha in size, located in the municipalities of Heeze-Leende
, Someren
and Geldrop-Mierlo
, in North Brabant
, the Netherlands
. It is largely under the care of Staatsbosbeheer
. In July 2010, around 200 hectares
of the area were damaged or destroyed in a wildfire
that took over a week to put out.
.
The area partially falls under the natural habitats directive and the wild birds directive of the European Union
. In 2006, the Strabrechtse Heide, along with a part of the valley of the Kleine Dommel stream, was assigned as Natura 2000
area under the Natura 2000 area name "Strabrechtse Heide & Beuven".
The eastern part of the area that lies in the municipality of Someren was originally called Lieropsche Heide, after the village of Lierop
. In the nineteenth century, both it and the Strabrechtse Heide proper were part of a larger heathland area between the valleys of the Kleine Dommel and the Aa
rivers. Towards the north, the heath extended to Nuenen
(there called Molenheide, Collsche Heide and Refelingse Heide). To the south of the road between Heeze and Someren, the Somerensche Heide extended to the Weerterbosch and Groote Peel areas. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, most of the heaths to the north of the Strabrechtse Heide were converted into forest or agricultural land. The construction of the A67 motorway
separated the Strabrechtse Heide from the forest area between Geldrop and Mierlo. Plans to construct the A2 motorway
to the east of Eindhoven, which would separate the heath from the valley of the Kleine Dommel, were not carried out.
Common Heather and Common Juniper are found in the dry areas, and the more marshy wetlands are home to Erica
, Purple Moor Grass
, Bog Myrtle and Marsh Gentian
. The spread of grass across the area is countered by allowing a flock of sheep to graze, by mowing and sod cutting. The heath area is surrounded by forests. The transition area towards the valley of the Kleine Dommel has several unusual forms of plant life and is also important for many animal species.
. Because of the fire, the A67 motorway
had to be closed off for a short period. The roadway was at one point completely covered in smoke and the flames were even able to reach across to the median and then to other side of the road, igniting the dry grass there too in a few places. The fire took several days to master, and over a week to put out completely, and destroyed about 200 hectares of forest and heathland, over ten percent of the total area.
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
area about 1500 ha in size, located in the municipalities of Heeze-Leende
Heeze-Leende
Heeze-Leende is a municipality in the southern Netherlands, near Eindhoven. It is known for Heeze Castle ....
, Someren
Someren
-External links:*...
and Geldrop-Mierlo
Geldrop-Mierlo
Geldrop-Mierlo is a municipality in the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. The municipality was created from the two former municipalities of Geldrop and Mierlo.-Villages:...
, in North Brabant
North Brabant
North Brabant , sometimes called Brabant, is a province of the Netherlands, located in the south of the country, bordered by Belgium in the south, the Meuse River in the north, Limburg in the east and Zeeland in the west.- History :...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. It is largely under the care of Staatsbosbeheer
Staatsbosbeheer
Staatsbosbeheer is a Dutch organization founded in 1899 to control and conserve Dutch nature reserves.Staatsbosbeheer currently oversees over 250.000 hectares of land in the Netherlands. Usually this land is open to the public for recreational purposes, but restrictions often apply...
. In July 2010, around 200 hectares
Hectare
The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...
of the area were damaged or destroyed in a wildfire
Wildfire
A wildfire is any uncontrolled fire in combustible vegetation that occurs in the countryside or a wilderness area. Other names such as brush fire, bushfire, forest fire, desert fire, grass fire, hill fire, squirrel fire, vegetation fire, veldfire, and wilkjjofire may be used to describe the same...
that took over a week to put out.
Location and surroundings
In the northwest, the Strabrechtse Heide passes into the Braakhuizense Heide, which is owned by the foundation Brabants Landschap. Near Heeze, the healthlands and fields pass into the Herbertusbossen (also owned by Brabants Landschap) and the grounds of Heeze CastleHeeze Castle
Heeze Castle is situated in the Netherlands, south of Eindhoven. It used to be the centre of the seigneury of Heeze, Leende and Zesgehuchten, part of the Duchy of Brabant. In the Middle Ages, it was owned by the de Horne family...
.
The area partially falls under the natural habitats directive and the wild birds directive of the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
. In 2006, the Strabrechtse Heide, along with a part of the valley of the Kleine Dommel stream, was assigned as Natura 2000
Natura 2000
Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
area under the Natura 2000 area name "Strabrechtse Heide & Beuven".
The eastern part of the area that lies in the municipality of Someren was originally called Lieropsche Heide, after the village of Lierop
Lierop
Lierop is a village in the Dutch province of North Brabant. It is located in the municipality of Someren, about 7 km south of Helmond.Lierop was a separate municipality until 1935, when it became part of Someren. Lierop is well known internationally amongst motocross enthusiasts as a venue for...
. In the nineteenth century, both it and the Strabrechtse Heide proper were part of a larger heathland area between the valleys of the Kleine Dommel and the Aa
Aa River (Meuse)
The Aa is a small river in The Netherlands. It rises near Meijel in the southeastern province of Limburg, in the Peel region. It flows northwest through the province of North Brabant towards 's-Hertogenbosch, roughly along the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. In 's-Hertogenbosch, at the confluence of the...
rivers. Towards the north, the heath extended to Nuenen
Nuenen
Nuenen is a town in the municipality of Nuenen, Gerwen en Nederwetten, in the Netherlands.Vincent Van Gogh resided in Nuenen from 1883-1885. During that time he painted many character studies of peasants and weavers that culminated in The Potato Eaters...
(there called Molenheide, Collsche Heide and Refelingse Heide). To the south of the road between Heeze and Someren, the Somerensche Heide extended to the Weerterbosch and Groote Peel areas. Around the beginning of the twentieth century, most of the heaths to the north of the Strabrechtse Heide were converted into forest or agricultural land. The construction of the A67 motorway
A67 motorway (Netherlands)
The A67 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is located in the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg.The road is approximately 75 kilometer in length. The A67 motorway connects the Belgian border near Eersel with Eindhoven and the German border near Venlo. Along the entire stretch...
separated the Strabrechtse Heide from the forest area between Geldrop and Mierlo. Plans to construct the A2 motorway
A2 motorway (Netherlands)
The A2 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is one of the busiest highways in the Netherlands. The road connects the city of Amsterdam, near the interchange Amstel, with the Belgian border, near Maastricht and Liège , and the Belgian road A25....
to the east of Eindhoven, which would separate the heath from the valley of the Kleine Dommel, were not carried out.
Common Heather and Common Juniper are found in the dry areas, and the more marshy wetlands are home to Erica
Erica
Erica ,the heaths or heathers, is a genus of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family Ericaceae. The English common names "heath" and "heather" are shared by some closely related genera of similar appearance....
, Purple Moor Grass
Purple Moor Grass
Molinia caerulea is a perennial grass native to Europe, west Asia, and north Africa. It grows in locations from the lowlands up to 2,300 m in the Alps. Like most grasses, it grows best in acid soils, ideally pH values of between 3.5 and 5, however, it can continue to live under more extreme...
, Bog Myrtle and Marsh Gentian
Marsh Gentian
Gentiana pneumonanthe is a species of the genus Gentiana. It was the first wildflower announced as flower of the year in Germany in 1980.The species can be found in Marshes and Moorlands. It is the host-plant of the Alcon Blue ....
. The spread of grass across the area is countered by allowing a flock of sheep to graze, by mowing and sod cutting. The heath area is surrounded by forests. The transition area towards the valley of the Kleine Dommel has several unusual forms of plant life and is also important for many animal species.
Fire
On 2 July 2010, a wildfire started in the northern part of the Strabrechtse Heide, after several weeks of hot and dry summer weather. The fire was initially fought by hundreds of firefighters, assisted by 100 more from the Dutch MilitaryMilitary of the Netherlands
The Armed forces of the Netherlands consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.The service branches consist of:* Koninklijke Landmacht , Royal Netherlands Army....
. Because of the fire, the A67 motorway
A67 motorway (Netherlands)
The A67 motorway is a motorway in the Netherlands. It is located in the Dutch provinces of North Brabant and Limburg.The road is approximately 75 kilometer in length. The A67 motorway connects the Belgian border near Eersel with Eindhoven and the German border near Venlo. Along the entire stretch...
had to be closed off for a short period. The roadway was at one point completely covered in smoke and the flames were even able to reach across to the median and then to other side of the road, igniting the dry grass there too in a few places. The fire took several days to master, and over a week to put out completely, and destroyed about 200 hectares of forest and heathland, over ten percent of the total area.