Hallerbos in Belgium or the so-called “The Blue Forest” includes the most important forests in the area between Zenne and Zonien. This forest is also the most extensive in the area. Filled with gorgeous Bluebell flowers, this forest becomes something unusual in Europe, coupled with the uniqueness of the growing flower density that makes the forest floor look like a living carpet. The beauty of the living carpet makes it look very beautiful like a fairy tale country.
This forest is located in Belgium, precisely in the town of Halle, Flemish province Brabant and take a little part of the province of Walloon Brabant. Hallerbos is a vast forest up to 569 hectares and the floor is coated with Bluebell flower rugs that make this forest very famous. The Sequoia trees growing around the forest further enhance the Hallerbos.
The blooms of Bluebell grow around mid-April to May. Local and foreign tourists come to this forest every year in April just to see the living carpet. Bluebell flowers bloom only for a few weeks during the spring. This forest can only be visited for as little as two weeks in a year as Hallerbos will only turn into blue-carpeted Bluebells for two weeks of the year.
The best time to visit this forest in order to see the Bluebells scenery will be different every year as it depends on the weather. The increase in temperature is directly proportional to the blooming time of Bluebell. If the temperature increases faster, then the flowers will also grow faster.
However, the best beauty of the flower races also with time because the warmer weather makes the leaves in the trees are also re-emerged so that it can steal sun exposure Bluebell. It can also make the flowers turn gray.
To be able to estimate the right visit, the Hallerbos website will upload updates on Bluebell’s condition when the flowering season arrives. 10 days when the flower begins to bloom usually becomes the best time to visit there. When the flowers bloom, sunlight can reach through the ceiling and touch them, creating a fascinating game of light and purple.
This forest recorded its existence since the year of 686, but unfortunately the first record is almost erased from the surface of the earth. At first this forest is still part of Silva Carbonaria, along with other forests around it including the Sonian and Meerdaal Forests. Until 1777, this forest is still connected with the Sonian wood forest. It was only during World War I that most of the old trees were felled by German troops. Reforestation took almost 20 years, from 1930 to 1950.
Part of this forest is a protected area with four separate areas covering 100 ha designed for nature reserves. There grew crops and wildflowers like spruge wood, rampion spiny flowers, wild orchids, gold saxifrage plants, and Paris herb (a kind of European lily).
If identified plants and trees that are not from there, then the plant will be removed so that natural flora and fauna can develop more. Meanwhile, the dead trees are allowed to fall apart and decay because they can form the best habitat for mosses and fungi, as well as crawly animals (spiders, worms, etc.).
In the forest of Hallerbos there are several cross paths scattered throughout the region. Visitors are required not to go out of the way to keep the flowers protected. The thing to keep in mind is that visitors must be on a clearly marked path.
Stomping on Bluebell flowers and its very fragile soil can cause severe damage. Therefore, deviating from a predetermined path is a strict prohibition. It is done nothing else to keep the forest condition of Bluebell remain safe and cleanliness are guaranteed. If you want to make a video or movie about the blooming flowers, the visitor must ask the permissions first. If it is just taking pictures then the permission is not necessary.
However, it is unfortunate that not everyone is mindful of the rules that apply in this forest. In fact, the regulation is very simple and reasonable. The reason this year the party in charge of the forest said that tourists have caused high damage to the Bluebell carpet.
There are many patches and empty spaces where flowers are trampled. The beauty of the Bluebell rug disappears in an instant and is destroyed for good. That happens when tourists are trying to take a picture of the scenery Bluebell flowers.
Those who prioritized their selfishness to get the best picture without regard to the circumstances surrounding have made the natural beauty of this blue forest destroyed. There is no harm in perpetuating the natural beauty in the camera lens, but not to damage the plants and flowers there. Therefore, awareness of maintaining the environment needs to be encouraged when visiting the Hallerbos forest in Belgium.