Cycling tour to the new areas after the Willebringen land consolidation

Via a bike ride along land consolidation roads, unpaved country roads, and paths, we explore the landscape of the Willebringen land consolidation. An area of approximately 3000 ha between the regional border and the Leuven-Tienen national road, with the villages of Opvelp, Willebringen, Meldert, Hoksem, Kumtich, Roosbeek, Vertrijk, Neervelp. Land consolidation is an agricultural instrument for the design of the landscape for large-scale arable farming. The consolidation turned a mosaic of arable plots into large and rectangular plots of often up to 20 ha per plot, but through the commitment and contribution of Natuurpunt Velpe-Mene, not only 101.6 ha of additional nature reserve could be realized, but also 40 km of buffer strips along the hollow roads and sometimes through the arable plateau. For the sustainable preservation of these strips, it is absolutely necessary that they are demarcated with field posts. Regarding water management, Natuurpunt Velpe-Mene also ensured that in the infiltration areas, the design was also carried out in such a way that the focus was on retention and infiltration. Land consolidation is synonymous with additional (paved) land consolidation roads. Door Natuurpunt Velpe-Mene focused on 2-track roads with 2 lanes of concrete of 1.1 m and an unpaved section of 1 m in between, but also on access outside the main access with gravel roads and the preservation of a series of unpaved rural roads. A series of new walking paths were also created. We explore this landscape and show how this commitment from NP Velpe-Mene concretely made the difference to finally be able to develop robust nature in the large-scale land consolidation landscape with scale enlargement and to still "interweave" this arable landscape with buffer strips and with the preservation of a series of unpaved, semi-paved, cobblestone roads, and hollow roads. The bike ride assumes somewhat experienced cyclists who can also cycle on rural roads. For less experienced cyclists, a short by-pass will be taken under supervision at a series of points, which then reconnects with the other cyclists. A stopover will be held at about 5 places. Distance: about 30 km.