Vondelbeekvallei

Today, the valley mainly consists of wet hayland bordered by characterful pollard willows. In that environment, there is a great diversity of fauna and flora. But it also contains a piece of war history. De Zeverenbeekvallei stretches from Zeveren to Wontergem and covers approximately 200 hectares. Despite the wet soil, the vegetation is very diverse, with plants that thrive on nutrient-poor soil. On maps from the end of the 18th century, we mainly see haylands; later these gave way to marsh forests (wet forests). Until the 20th century, peat (turf) was cut and dried as fuel in Deinze. The railway towards De Panne crosses the area. This was damaged by Belgian troops during the 18-day campaign in 1940. After the capitulation, German troops rebuilt the bridge, which is still visible through inscriptions. Accessibility: Unfortunately, this location is more difficult to reach for the disabled, but not impossible. Via the boardwalk, it is not always equally flat.