Hundreds join heather-cutting event at Hoge Veluwe to support conservation

Hundreds of visitors took part this weekend in a free heather-cutting event at De Hoge Veluwe National Park. A park spokesperson estimated that approximately 800 people joined the activity on Saturday and Sunday, aimed at highlighting the importance of maintaining the park’s heather fields. Without human management, the heather could gradually be overtaken by forest.

“The event was appreciated, and many people were also surprised that we were doing it,” the spokesperson said. Some participants questioned whether cutting the heather was actually beneficial. “Our nature guides explained that it is. The heather is eventually mowed, and every bit helps,” she added.

Heather management at De Hoge Veluwe relies on multiple methods, including mowing, cutting, controlled burning, and grazing. These practices are necessary to prevent the growth of grasses, coarse pine trees, and rough birch, which could replace the open heather fields.

The initiative allowed visitors not only to actively contribute to conservation but also to learn directly from guides about the ecological role of the heather. The park emphasized that human involvement is essential for preserving the landscape’s biodiversity and preventing succession into forested areas.