If it is up to the five largest land owners of the Holtingerveld, the nature reserve will gain a second flock of sheep in the coming years. They would also like to see the current herd expanded.
This is evident from the area vision that was published this month, containing this express wish. With the second herd, the northeast side of the Holtingerveld, the Wapserveen side, can be better grazed.
“You won’t have a new flock of sheep right away next week. Apart from the sheep you need, you also need facilities and therefore financing,” explains Fred Prak of Natuurmonumenten. “That is why the area vision assumes a period of 18 years.”
The idea of a second herd is a common need among the site managers. “Due to the excess of nitrogen and desiccation, the heathland is becoming coarser. To keep grassification and forestation in check, we want more heathland to be grazed. To this end, we are expanding the sheep herd and introducing a second herd,” it is written. This does not yet mean it has been cast in concrete.
The current shepherd of the Holtinger Sheep Flock, Jelle Kootstra, is familiar with the idea for a new herd. “But I have my hands full with the current herd,” he responds. Drenthe now still has ten sheep herders in the province, with a new cage and flock there would be an eleventh.
According to Kootstra, the Holtingerveld is also too large for the herd to graze completely. A new herd on the other side does offer opportunities for this. “It is a wish from Natuurmonumenten. They do not get in each other’s way and rather reinforce each other. Expanding my flock is difficult, so a piece would also have to be attached to the sheepfold, otherwise I cannot just have more sheep in there.”
In addition to sheep, other animals are currently used for grazing on the site, such as Scottish highlanders and galloways. This is not always a convenient method, especially for Defense, because of the grids and fencing that form obstacles for vehicles and during exercises.
The organizations also want to look at other forms of grazing in the future by also opening the door to red deer and wild boar. There is now a so-called ‘zero status’ in Drenthe, which means that these animals are not welcome and are shot. The organizations ask the province to look at that policy.
The only question is whether and how quickly the province wants to move along. Last week, the Provincial Executive responded to state questions from the PvdD that the zero position will still apply until 2029 and that it does not intend to change this prematurely. Partly because of road safety, preventing the outbreak of swine fever and preventing damage to agricultural crops. After 2029, more may be possible.
For a long time, the Holtingerveld was almost entirely used as a defense training area. It now has six other landowners.
A part on the west side is still a Defense training area, Staatsbosbeheer and its forests are mainly on the southwest side near the Havelterberg, Natuurmonumenten mainly has heath and fens spread across the area,
The Drentse Landschap Foundation mainly has forests and lakes on the Uffelte side. Then you also have private owner Het Moer and Uffelterzand Estate. The municipality of Westerveld also owns the paths and roads.
