Sheep in the Paardekop
De Paardekop werd vroeger ook wel de ‘Schiëperspiël’ genoemd. ‘Schiëper’ is scheper ofwel herder in het plaatselijke dialect. ‘Piël’ is peel. Op de toen nog uitgestrekte heide stonden vele schaapskooien. Daarin werden ’s nachts de honderden overdag rondtrekkende schapen ondergebracht. Van de schaapskooien is niets meer terug te vinden.
Efforts are being made to preserve the remaining heathland. In the early 2000s, various parts were plagued. Since mid-2000, a flock of 250 sheep have been walking around twice in the season. With this flock and the efforts of many hands, such as Zorgboerderij de Lorr, Zorgboerderij Boer Hans, IVN, Jong Nederland volunteers Natuurwerkdagen, an attempt is made to keep the nature reserve open from birches. One of the results is that the nightjar has returned!
The forest grows
The forest is a mixed forest of deciduous and coniferous species. Large parts are quite young. At the end of the 1990s, large parts were felled due to poor vitality caused by acid rain. These clearcuts were planted at the time.
During a fire in the war, on 24 May 1943, a lot of peat and heather on the Paardekop went up in flames. In 1946, it was decided to plant forest for the production of wood. Today, this forest covers 137 hectares. And every year nature expands through wood growth and seedlings, such as acorns that take root. The forest grows almost 795 cubic metres per year. That is one tree a day! Part of this walking route is identical to the De Paardekop Nature Learning Path.
Extend walk De Paardekop
This walk can easily be extended by about 3.1 km. The total walk (7.9 km) then takes about two hours. To walk this route, follow the following junctions: 30, 31, 34, 35, 60, 61, 36, 37, 38, 33, 32, 30.
Starting point is the car park on the Middenpeelweg from Ysselsteyn to the south (after 2 km). De Paardekop is the highest sand plateau of De Peel. There is a heathland with a fen.
Parking: Parking place near information sign